ON Friday November 10 as a member of the March Branch RNA I was honoured to attend the remembrance assembly at Neale-Wade Community College, along with other veterans organisations. On arrival we were met by student escorts. I was immediately impressed by
ON Friday November 10 as a member of the March Branch RNA I was honoured to attend the remembrance assembly at Neale-Wade Community College, along with other veterans organisations.
On arrival we were met by student escorts. I was immediately impressed by their courtesy and politeness. We were ushered into a reception, prior to forming up behind our standards to process into the crowded assembly of students taking part in a unique remembrance ceremony.
The principal, Tim Hitch, gave us a great welcome, and introduced various students, who all gave a most lucid reading covering the war periods in a rather lovely way, by relating stories of letters, of the Duxford alsation wandering the air-base hunting his pilot master who sadly never returned, the Atlantic convoy story and the march to Kohuna.
The whole ceremony, combined with silence, the Last Post and wreath laying was so moving that I found tears rolling down my cheeks.
Not a sound from all those wonderful young people in the packed assembly and what really impressed me during the reception afterwards was meeting and talking to the students who all shook our hands, asking questions of our experiences.
But most of all, they all said 'thank-you' to us for our service to the nation.
We often think of our young in these sad times, sometimes not too kindly. My visit to Neale-Wade certainly encouraged my faith in the new generation.
The country can rest assured we are in good hands. May God bless each and every one of our magnificent young people of today.
WILLIAM EVANS
Former CPO (RN) and royal yachtsman
School Lane
Manea
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