Blessing of the Garden of Remembrance

The traditional start to the four days of events in the city, dedicated to National Remembrance Day, began with the ceremony of blessing at the Garden of Remembrance at the War Memorial in the Old Steine. The blessing was attended by the Mayor of Brighton and Hove, Councillor Anne Meadows.

This is a gallery of some of the Brighton and Hove veterans who attended the blessing, to honour the memory of those comrades who have given their lives in the service of their country.

Remembrance blessing at the War Memorial

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  • Born in Brighton in May1947, went to Moulsecombe School – Infants, Juniors and Seniors. Left school in 1963 and went to work for the Brighton Parks Dept where I worked until I joined the Navy in 1966. Joined the Navy January 1966 at HMS Raleigh in Torpoint. I was there for 12 weeks doing my basic training before I went onto HMS Cambridge at Wembury Point just out side of Plymouth to do my gunnery training before I joined my first sea-going ship. My first sea-going ship was HMS Aurora which was a Leander Class Frigate, then I went onto HMS Victorious where I did not go to sea on her as we had a fire on board in 1967. Drafted to HMS Hermes where I went to the Med and the Far East. In 1970 I went to HMS Excellent (Whale Island) to do my two’s course. I was taken off this course to join HM Yacht Britannia where I stayed until I came out of the Navy in 1975. In all the years that I spent in the Navy I would say that the time on board the Britannia was the most interesting as I must have seen nearly half the world. And even today I’m still linked to the Britannia as I belong to the Assocaition of Royal Yachtsmen. After leaving the Royal Navy in January 1975 I joined the Royal Fleet Reserve untill1990. I’ve been involved with the Remembrance Parade in Brighton for many years even when I was home on leave while serving in the Navy. All told I think it could be something like 28 years that I’ve been doing the parade as a Standard Bearer, and as the Standard Bearers’ Parade Marshal. Also doing parades for other associations as Parade Marshal. I joined the Royal Naval Assocaition in Brighton in 1983 where I was Standard Bearer / Vice Chairman and then Chairman from 1992-2004. Sadly the branch had to close due to lack of support, so I transferred my membership to Worthing RNA. I’m also a member of the Brighton and Hove City Royal British Legion where I’m also the Parade Marshal. Being the Parade Marshal for the Royal British Legion I’ve been involved with the parades at Whitehawk Primary School and the Downs Junior School over the last 7 years. I’m still involved with the Royal Naval Association in Worthing and at national level being National Standard Bearer 1996-2002, National Ceremonial Officer 2003-2005 and Standing Orders Committee 2007 till present. While being the National Standard Bearer for the Royal Naval Association I was involved in the Remembrance Service at the Royal Albert Hall for 6 years – my first year was 1996 and my last year was 2001. Then in 2005, as National Ceremonial Officer, I was asked to take charge of the Standards for the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar on Southsea Common where I had just over 300 Standards.

    By Tony Avery (12/11/2011)

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