Yorkshire's Ride to the Wall visit
Sunday lunch is available at The Peacock, near Alfreton, after our NMA visit at about 3.15pm, please tell John, so that he can give the pub an idea of numbers attending.
Arrangements have now been made for our Ride to the Wall “Ride-
We are meeting at the M1 Woodall Services Southbound on Sunday morning 16th May 2010 at 9.00am leaving at 9.20am prompt. The reason for this relatively early start is to arrive at the Arboretum about 10.30am, in time to take part in the daily remembrance service and introduction, which assembles in the chapel at 10.50am. Directions are simple so if anyone misses us at the start, we shall be travelling south down the M1 to junction 28 where we leave and join the A38 to the Arboretum via Derby and Burton upon Trent. Stay on the A38 all the way and shortly after Burton upon Trent, you will see a big brown sign for the Arboretum just before Lichfield. We may be joined along the route by a few friends from Trent Wings.
Just before we ride into the Arboretum I would ask that all radios and music players are turned off as a mark of respect.
I recommend you try and take in the chapel service to gain a little knowledge of the place and how it was formed. After the 10 minutes service, there is usually an introduction talk by a member of staff which takes about 15 minutes. The modern chapel seats about 100 people but as this will be on a Sunday, we will have to take our chances of a seat alongside members of the public, however, if the place gets too full, I understand the service will be relayed to those outside in the gardens.
At the suggestion of the Arboretum, we will officially display our bikes on Millennium Avenue which is adjacent to the National Armed Forces Memorial. This is on grass verges right besides the avenue, so you will need a stand plate to prevent the bike’s side stand or centre stand from sinking into the ground. The advantage of displaying is that our bikes will be right in the centre of the venue and next to the cafe, shop, chapel and toilets and away from the pay and display public car park.
There is a large cafe and gift shop on site where prices are pretty reasonable.
National Memorial Arboretum
The centrally-
The Arboretum, which has seen the planting of 50,000 trees, was established in 1997 on former sand and gravel workings restored by Lafarge and leased to the Arboretum on a peppercorn rent. It is free to enter and has become a focal point for Remembrance. It receives many thousands of visitors throughout the year and expects some 300,000 people through its gates during 2008.
There is a Chapel, in which a short, poignant service called The Homage is held every day at 10.50am. This service includes the Two Minutes Silence and reflects the whole ethos of the NMA. This is the only place in the UK in which such a service is held every day.
Armed Forces Memorial
The Armed Forces Memorial, dedicated in the presence of The Queen on 12 October 2007, is the UK’s tribute to the 16,000 men and women who have been killed on duty or as a result of terrorist action since 1948. Their names are inscribed on the giant Portland stone walls. The Memorial has been designed to allow a shaft of sunlight to fall across the sculpted wreath on the central stone at precisely 11:00am on the 11th day of the 11th month.
The obelisk, which forms an integral part of the Memorial, is specifically dedicated to those who have died while in service. It carries the inscription "they died serving their country we will remember them".
Uniquely, the memorial also recognises and acknowledges the courage of family and friends left behind. It is hoped it will play a valuable role in supporting the bereaved as they manage their loss through different stages in their lives.
Any Questions please call me on 07740 959437 ... John.
