Supporters of the Wreath of Respect
It is an honor to support the Wreath of Respect as it travels around the UK.
As the great grandson of an Old Contemptible who fought at Ypres and the Somme my Bampa never forgot the many friends and twin brother he lost during World War 1. Despite being wounded 4 times this never stopped him returning to the front as he believed that every man had to do his duty.
Our support of the Wreath of Respect is a very small token of appreciation of his generation and the sacrifices they made for our liberty and freedom. I shall never forget him just as he never forgot his ‘Chums’ and his brother Sam.
Doug Hughes
Hughes Architects
We are also proud to say CSIS are one of our great supports.
Throughout the last century we have proudly maintained our status as a 'Not for Profit Organisation', and our charity has continued the tradition of donating profits to deserving charitable causes within the Civil and Public Service 'umbrella', such as The Charity for Civil Servants, BT Benevolent Fund and The Rowland Hill Fund.
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Wreath of Respect when not on its travels.
Wreath Of Respect on Display
Wreath is now on display at the Staffordshire Regimental Museum in Lichfield. The Museum have very kindly agreed to look after the wreath for the next twelve months. Due to this the Wreath will only be going out to requested events once a month unless there are exceptional circumstances. The Wreath of Respect Team would just like to remind members of the procedure for requesting the Wreath for events.
The best place for information regarding the Wreath of Respect is the Wreath of Respect Facebook page, or the website
The criteria for the Wreath being taken to events is that the event must have a military connection and be in the spirit of Remembrance Respect and Reconciliation. There is a separate post on this page giving full details but if anyone needs more info just PM me or any of the Team,
The Wreath of Respect Team would be grateful if any enquires for the Wreath are made to the above e-mail and not directly to the museum as they will be unable to deal with your request.
Thanks you for your support and co-operation. We look forward to hearing g from you and/or meeting you soon.
Braille reading for the Wreath of Respect
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Many of you will be aware of the well- publicised travels of the Wreath of Respect. However, since the end of the inaugural tour of the UK in July 2014 the Wreath has been involved with, and taken part in numerous visits and events, all equally special in their own way.
These have included personal and public events and viewings by individuals and organisations, such as the Wreath’s first overseas visit to Arnhem in September 2014, and taking part in a very moving Memorial Service for Submariner Chris Payne at the National Memorial Arboretum and attended by friends and family of Chris who laid the Wreath of Respect at the Wall of the Armed Forces Monument.
In October 2014 the Wreath made a memorable visit to the St. Dunstans Blind Veterans Centre at Llandudno. The visit was organised by RBLR Members whose grandfather had been assisted by the Blind Veterans Charity and had recently passed away. Given the tactile nature of the Wreath of Respect it was considered a fitting addition to the cheque presentation ceremony at the centre in memory of their late grandfather and an ideal opportunity for other Blind Veterans to hold and “see” the Wreath of Respect with their hands.
As a result of the visit to St. Dunstan’s we realised that whilst those who are visually impaired could gain a good impression of the Wreath by touching, holding and feeling it, some may not be able to read the Exhortation inscribed in the centre of the Wreath. For this reason we enlisted the assistance of a Braille interpreter who produced a Brailled copy of the Exhortation which now accompanies the Wreath of Respect wherever it goes in order that everyone may appreciate the full experience of the Wreath.
The Braille reads
“They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old,
Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning,
We Will Remember Them. Amen”.
There is a small dot at the top left hand corner of the Braille to indicate which way up it should be “read” and the wording has been written in well spaced Grade 2 contracted Braille for ease of reading by those just getting used to Grade 2. We are extremely grateful to Hannah Beech who produced the Braille for us and also to all at St. Dunstan’s for their advice.
Also in October the Wreath of Respect visited North Wales for the launch of their Poppy Appeal and to pay a very special 100th Birthday visit to possibly the oldest Poppy Seller in Wales if not the UK. On it’s return from Wales was photographed with one of the youngest residents of the UK it had met to date – a 7 day old baby whose parents were visiting the NMA and were delighted for their new arrival to become part of the history of this special tribute to all who serve.
In November everyone was very excited when the Wreath took part in the prestigious Birmingham International Tattoo with Members of the Royal British Legion Riders and received rapturous applause from the 6,000 + audiences at both performances. During the Tattoo the Wreath was admired and held by members of the audience, Organisers and Performers from all over the world.
On 25 February 2015 Third Secretary of the Russian Embassy, Sergey Fedichkin, Third Secretary of the Russian Embassy Sergey Belyakov and Assistant Air Attaché’ Lieutenant Colonel Sergey Sayunov presented Ushakov Medals to 17 British Veterans of the Arctic Convoys in recognition of their courage and bravery during the Second World War. This very special and moving award ceremony took place at Walsall Town Hall and was also attended by the Mayor of Walsall, Civic Dignitaries and the Lord Lieutenant of the West Midlands. We were honored and delighted for the Wreath of Respect to be present at this ceremony and photographed with recipients and dignitaries alike.
April 2015 saw the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli Campaign and the Wreath of Respect was placed at the Gallipoli Memorial in the grounds of the National Memorial Arboretum. The following day the Wreath of Respect took part in the annual Anzac Day Service at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s Cannock Chase Military Cemetery, final resting place of 73 members of the New Zealand Forces.
Guests at the service included Geoff MacMillan, a descendant of one of the men buried at the cemetery, who had travelled from New Zealand to be part of the anniversary.
Other New Zealand representatives were Lieutenant Colonel Sean Poff of the New Zealand Defense Force and Lady Alexandra Smith wife of the New Zealand High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. All were honored to hold and be photographed with the Wreath of Respect which was placed at the foot of the Cross of Service by RBLR North Staffs Representative Frank Mellor.
When not taking part in events or visits the Wreath of Respect is rested
Anyone wishing to request the Wreath of Respect to take part in or visit an event may do so by emailing requestwreathofresepct@gmail.com giving as much notice and detail of the event as possible. The criteria for consideration of such requests is that the event must have a military connection and be in the spirit of Remembrance, Peace and Reconciliation.
Please bear in mind we receive numerous requests throughout the year and in order to preserve the dignity and ethos of the Wreath participation in events is limited to one per month unless there are exceptional circumstances.
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