COVENTRY’S reputation as a city of peace and reconciliation was beautifully upheld at West Orchards shopping centre this morning at the poignant Armistice Day poppy drop service.
The annual service saw shoppers stop and pay tribute to those who fought and died in wars past and present.
The short service opened with words from West Orchards’ Manager Andy Talbot, who said it was more important than ever we remember those who gave their lives in service for our country.
Coventry Lord Mayor Coun Jaswant Singh Birdi then paid his own tribute to ‘those who gave their lives to help provide a peaceful world.’
Youngsters Hayder Cobby and Nuha Ahmed, from St Mary’s and St Benedict’s schools, then read poems giving their own views on war, peace and remembrance.
Hayder’s poem spoke of how the ‘delicate black and red poppy’ remembers the bloodbath of war and urged people to ‘wear a poppy with pride for those who fought and died for our safety.’
At 11am a bugler from the Coventry Corps of Drums sounded the Last Post to begin a two-minute silence, during which 4,000 poppy petals were released from the shopping centre’s domed roof.
To end the service, members of the British Legion delivered the Exhortation and Kohima Epitaph, and God Save The King sounded around the shopping centre as the crowds dispersed.
After the service, Andy Talbot told the Observer: “It’s my 21st year of hosting this service and I’ve always felt it was important to bring a Remembrance service to a shopping centre that people can access very easily.
“The Royal British Legion does a great job of supporting veterans through all conflicts, they’re a great organisation and I think it’s important people think about the past as well as the future.
“The service reflects peace and reconciliation in Coventry, it’s always very well attended and the majority of people in the shopping centre stop, are respectful and they remember.”
