Topper: Remembrance
November 11th 2022 Remembrance Day
This year, 2022 the members of Downend Women’s Institute decided that they wanted to be more a part of the memorial tribute for Remembrance Sunday, so instead of buying a wreath, the ladies decided to make and embroider felt poppies and leaves. The idea of making the topper for our local letterbox in Downend, was to bring the memorial tribute to our local community to share, they felt that as we all have relatives who have had to live through the horrors of wartime, both service and civilian, it was only right and proper that by bringing our memorial to share with everyone on their daily basis, it represents that we have compassion for all, and that it’s not a thing for show, but a tribute for our whole community, young and old.We created packs of felt, and all the haberdasheries that were required, along with the instructions, to make up the poppies and leaves, suitable for all levels of ability. Members purchased the packs, priced to cover expenses plus a little extra, then by deducting the expenses, we had gleaned an amount of £65 which we wanted to donate to the Staple Hill Royal British Legion.On Saturday the 5th of November, the wind and rain did not deter Linda Russ (Secretary) and Suzzie Belcher (Committee Member) who outed the topper onto the double letterbox outside of the Post Office in Downend. Ian Campbell from the Staple Hill Royal British Legion came to watch and was presented with the donation. The memorial will be removed on Saturday the 19th of November. 2022.
November 14th 2021 Remembrance Sunday
Representing our members of Downend WI, our President, Julie Walker, and Vice President, Sue Jones, walked in the Staple Hill RBL Remembrance Sunday Parade, and laid a poppy wreath in Page Park Memorial, for all the family and friends of our members who have suffered in any of the wars and battles.
We Will Remember Them
The year 2020, it was decided that our Institute would lay a Remembrance wreath in Downend.
But not just for those lost, or wounded or widowed from World War II and World War II.
1914-1918 The First World War
1917-1918 The Russian Civil War
1917–1922 The Irish War of Independence
1919–1921 The Irish Civil War
1922–1923 The Second World War
1939–1945 The Korean War
1946 - 1991 The Cold War / Conflict
1950–1953 The Kenya Emergency
1952–1960 The Suez Crisis
1956-1960 The Malayan Emergency
1948–1960 The Aden Emergency
1963–1985 The Troubles
1968–1998 The Falklands War
1982 The Gulf War, 1990–1991
The Bosnian War, 1992–1995
The Kosovo War, 1998–1999
The Global War on Terrorism
2001–2013 The War in Afghanistan
2001–2014The Iraq War and Insurgency, 2003–2011
Our thoughts and prayers go to all who are suffered in the above battles listed, and especially the families who continue to suffer the loss of their loved ones.
2022. The Covid Battle continues. Many lives have been lost, both medical staff and patients.
2021. Now not just the British, but all over the world a battle has broken out to conquer the Pandemic Corona-virus Covid-19. A new war, with very different soldiers, our doctors, nurses and scientists, working around the clock to attend and cure those who have caught this deadly virus.
