Lisburn Garrison
BFPO 801
I travelled down on Tuesday the 9th along with my guest Ms Judy Hethcox a penfriend of longstanding, She was over here for a vaxation so I thought that it would be something special for her to attend the service with me, so we set of from Barnsley at 1200 and took a steady drive down to London and our overnight accomodation, which I had booked at least 8 weeks prior at the Union Jack Club. On arrival at the club one thing hit me the place was full of VC and George Cross holders, boy was I over awed by the presence of so many heros, I can honestly say with my hand on my heart that, that is one experience I will remember for the rest of my life,.
Wednesday the 10th dawned and the good lord shone on us the da was bright and sunny in faxt I woul even say it was quite warm. At 1000 we left the club along with a another couple and got a taxi to St Pauls as the service was scheduled to start at 1100 in the presence of their Highnesses Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall. Once inside St Pauls the vista was quite awesome, where ever you looked there was goldbraid everywhere, The readings were given by a variety of people, These included the Right Reverend David Conner, bishop to HM Forces and Mr Andrew Bennett Chairman of the Northern Ireland Veterans Association, The Last Post was sounded as we all remembered our fallen brethern, after a two minutes silemce the reveille was sounded.
They shall not grow 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.
Words Laurence Binyon
(1869-1943)