Royal British Legion members on why remembrance matters

Janet Butler, chairman of Rayleigh’s Royal British Legion social club, has lived in Rayleigh for almost 40 years and has been instrumental in creating the club’s remembrance display.

The 72-year-old volunteer says the club was inspired to do something special after seeing the incredible poppy waterfall at the Tower of London.

Rayleigh's Royal British Legion display has been delighting residents (Image: Julie Ann)

For Janet, the act of remembrance is about gratitude and recognition of sacrifice, explaining: “I think that the people who fought for us all those years ago deserve some sort of recognition from the rest of us.

“We owe them for the world we live in, they fought to give us our freedoms and prevented despotic regimes from ruling us all.”

Wreaths will once again be laid at Cenotaphs across the country (Image: Southend City Council) Remembrance Sunday is held on the second Sunday of every November and is the UK’s main day of remembrance for military personnel who have died in war and conflict. It coincides with Armistice Day, marking the end of the First World War.

Derek Prior, lives in Billericay and is the secretary of the town’s Royal British Legion branch. His days are spent selling poppies around the town, with the dedicated volunteer waking up at five o'clock in the morning to sell poppies at Billericay station  during rush hour.

He spends three hours raising money there before moving to shops, spending a total of six hours selling poppies. 

Last year's Southend Remembrance Day service was an emotional event (Image: Southend City Council) For Derek, the purpose of remembrance is preserving the lessons of the past and honouring the sacrifice of those who fought for our freedoms today.

“The main reason why it’s so important is that those who don’t remember history are condemned to repeat it,” he said.

“Young people need to be properly taught about the sacrifice that has been made.”

The Royal British Legion is a charity dedicated to supporting serving members of the armed forces, veterans and their families. It was founded in 1921 and is best known for it’s annual Poppy Appeal.

Southend East and Rochford MP Bayo Alaba, who is a former Parachute Regiment soldier, added: "Remembrance Day is a chance to honour those who made a sacrifice most of us cannot imagine, without which we would not be here today.

"Southend and Rochford are places with a proud military history, and people from the area made many such sacrifices during the wars.

"This Sunday I will be joining others in the city centre to honour those who were lost, as well as laying wreaths in Shoebury and Rochford. But wherever people are in the world and wherever they are in their lives this Sunday, I think there is the same sense of humility, gratitude and respect."