Lest We Forget

The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month marks the end of the First World War, and on Armistice day we pause at this time for a two minute silence to remember all those who have died in conflict. At Cheltenhams Cenotaph wreaths of poppies were laid on Remembrance Sunday in a sober ceremony where the fallen were remembered. Lest We Forget.

Big Balls!

Now I've got your attention its time to tell you about these spheres! Actually I don't know much about them other than they mark the former entrance into Imperial Gardens. The gardens, like all of those in Cheltenham, used to be surrounded by iron railings but the railings were removed during World War Two to be melted down, to aid the war effort. Either side of these markers are stone blocks set in the ground with holes in them where the railings once were. Anyway, back to the balls. They are solid and weathered and I think they look great.

I've got a lot on this week, and its not work - its fun! Anyway, I'm scheduling posts and will comment when I can.
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Winter Garden

The "big freeze" continues. The temperature fell to -10c the other night, the snow is still on the ground and the roads are icy. We really aren't used to this here, a cold day or two is the norm. Though it is nice to get home in the evening and get warm. I've had to have several glasses of Port to keep my temperature up!

Today's photo shows a snowy Imperial Gardens, just behind the Town Hall. The area used to be the site of the Winter Gardens. The glass roofed building was used for concerts, exhibitions and housed a cinema. The building opened in 1878 and was demolished between 1940 and 1944, partly because its glass roof may have been a target for bombers in the Second World War, but mainly because it was in a poor state of repair. It would be a great if a similar building could be reinstated on the Gardens. I think it would make a fine addition to Cheltenham.

I'm getting cold again. Where's the Port?

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Remembrance Sunday

Today is Remembrance Sunday. The day the Country stops at 11am, for two minutes, to remember all those who have given their lives in battle. Originally called Armistice Day, to mark the end of the First World War at the 11th hour, on the 11th day, of the 11th month in 1918, it was renamed Remembrance Sunday at the end of the Second World War. In the UK, and other countries around the world, Poppies are used to mark this day. The photo is part of the Field of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in Cheltenham.

On the 11th of November 1918, 90 years ago, the Armistice was signed at 5.00am in a train carriage in the Forest of Compiegne in France, and came into effect at 11.00am. At 10.57am Canadian Private George Lawrence Price was killed with a single bullet to the chest while on patrol in Canal du Centre. He was the last soldier to die in action on the Western front.

The number of First World War casualties was over 40 million - 20 million deaths and 21 million wounded. This huge number includes civilian and military casualties. The UK lost 885,138 Service men and women. Our Service men and women are still killed today during Service for their country. There has only been one year (1968) since the end of the Second World War when a British Service person hasn't been killed on active duty.

We owe these brave men and women our freedom and gratitude. Lest We Forget.
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Reinstated Railings

Last year Montpellier Gardens under went a £1 million refurbishment, with new paths being laid, trees planted, the tennis courts moved, the former gym turned into an art gallery and, the most noticeable improvement, the iron railings reinstated. The railings were removed from all of the towns public parks, gardens and buildings during the Second World War, they were taken as scrap to be melted down and aid the war effort. Today, around the edges of the parks and gardens, you can still see the old stone bases that once held the fences in place. These new railings were based on the original ones and now help define Montpellier Gardens. Not all of the perimeters have had the railings put back, but this is a start.

The photo below shows the railings being removed in June 1940. I love the fact the workmen are in their shirts and waistcoats! All very proper!