Knitted poppies honour war dead
WITH Remembrance Day in mind, it was fitting that the stage was draped with a cascade of knitted poppies made by WI members for our November meeting.
A beautifully co-ordinated flower arrangement had been provided for the top table by Marian Burton.
Our speaker for the evening was Caroline Mclaughlin, talking about the charity Troop Aid.
From small beginnings, when a whip-round of £50 was turned into £300 of Cadbury’s chocolate to hand out to injured service personnel, this small charity has come a long way.
They now produce approximately 1,300 ‘Grab Bags’ for injured service personnel each year.
Mainly staffed by volunteers and blessed by generous donations, these bags contain essentials for personnel who find themselves medically evacuated back to the UK with little more than their underwear and a blanket.
What are the essentials? Clean underwear, shorts, T-shirt, socks, flip flops, a towel, flannel and basic toiletries, notepad, pen, mobile with £10 of credit, teddy bear and a get-well card (personalised and signed by one of the volunteers).
The testimonies Caroline read from those who had received a grab-bag were touching and made us all very much appreciate the blessings we have that so often we take for granted.
Much needed tea and refreshments were enjoyed. Caroline Simone won the raffle and Sue Cattermole won the competition for three home-made biscuits for a soldier.
We look forward to our Christmas meeting where several of the members will be performing a nativity play in the style of a 10-year-old. Should be entertaining!