Stroud district’s fallen were remembered in a moving ceremony on Armistice Day today, Thursday, November 11th.
A wreath from Stroud District Council was presented to the ‘Poppy Train’ when it passed through Stroud station at 8.28am, as part of Great Western Railway’s Poppies to Paddington operation.
The operation symbolised the long journey made by soldiers on their way to war and started last year as a response to the Coronavirus pandemic.
The train stopped at Stroud and Stonehouse stations and others, on the way to Paddington station. The wreaths were ceremoniously placed at the war memorial on platform 1 at the London station, along with dozens of other wreaths from across the GWR network.
Poppies to Paddington was created to allow communities in the Great Western Railway network honour the fallen whilst remaining Covid-safe. The Veterans Charity created a new ‘Routes of Remembrance’ campaign involving the whole country including 11 train operators as well as ferry companies, airlines, veterans, businesses and private individuals.
SDC Chair Councillor Steve Robinson, a representative from HMS Flying Fox and Hannah McDonnell of the Gloucestershire Community Rail Partnership passed wreaths to GWR representatives at Stroud station in a short and moving ceremony.
“We feel honoured that we’re able to be a part of the Poppies to Paddington operation passing through Stroud and Stonehouse,” said Councillor Robinson, who will be one of several district councillors laying wreaths at war memorials across the district this Sunday. “It’s important we pay our tributes to all those who lost their lives in conflict.”
The arrival of the Poppies and the Remembrance service at Paddington was broadcast live on Great Western Railway’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/gwruk/videos/3095972774058039 and people are invited to post and hashtag #RememberFromHome.
