St.Ives Veteran Awareness Day

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A Report by Martin Mason

Many thanks to Frank V, Lawson K, Chris & Sharon + 2 and Graham M for coming to St. Ives today. G & J Kitchen came and had a chat. Having met up at Tesco's, we ended up parked free on Smeaton's Pier (sans Vampire cos of the trailer). Lots of public interest. Luckily we didn’t follow Chris who had an early recce by himself and got lost in the back streets and found it very difficult to find his way back out of town!! The males stayed to chunter while the ladies went off shopping, the sun was shining and St. Ives was looking at its best. After a couple of hours Anne and I went off in the GS and went back to pick up the Vampire. We found an empty loading bay near the top of the slipway and enjoyed talking to the punters and having an excellent ice cream with strawberries and clotted cream on top. The local PSO (not quite real police) stopped for a chat and asked to see my guns as she had heard that they were a big hit during our visit to the local big school on Thursday. Luckily she didn’t ask to see the de-ac certs as for once I left them at home. Not long after 16.00 we had to move as some poor dear fell off the pavement opposite us (not our fault) and we needed to make space for the ambulance. We enjoyed ourselves and we hope the others did as well. Thanks for coming Anne and Martin

Below is an article from the Western Morning News describing this event

The following is a WMN article about the coming Veterans Day in St Ives on Sat 28th June. TOWN TO SAY THANKS TO ITS WAR VETERANS PETRA MANN 11:00 - 21 June 2008 A special day is being held in St Ives to honour the contribution veterans have paid to the nation. Veterans Awareness Week, to be held from June 23 to 29, boasts a packed programme of events. After a Government scheme two years ago, towns and cities throughout the UK have been holding annual Veterans Awareness events. The St Ives Trust Archive Study Centre has taken the lead in organizing the event. Many local men and women have served in the armed forces, serving in conflicts such as the Second World War, Korea and the Falklands. Although some were regular soldiers, many were called to National Service. The day honours them for their contributions to the nation. There will be an exhibition - Veterans Remember - throughout the week in St Ives Library, which will include recorded wartime memories of more than 20 local men and women. On June 27, again in the library, veterans will share their experiences over a cup of tea with Ted Lever, one of the Archive Centre volunteers. Computer support and advice will be available to them should they wish to access official and voluntary sources, including ex-service organisations. Many have yet to claim their Veterans Badge and library staff will be on hand to help them do so. During the afternoon at 2pm, Harry Hughes, a former navigator with Bomber Command will give a talk. Admission is free. The town museum will be open throughout the week, where many artefacts can be seen relating to the Second World War. Central to the event will be a Veterans Meeting and Tea Party on June 28 from 2.30pm until 4pm. This will be held in a marquee on the church lawn. On June 29, there will be a slide show of Wartime Memories of St Ives, at the Royal British Legion in the Stennack, starting at 3pm, after which refreshments will be available. A spokesman for the event said: "If you know of a veteran, could you please let them know about these events, as we would like as many as possible to attend. "Some may not be able to travel without help, and if this is the case, please ring us. Others might still find it difficult. "We would be delighted to call on any who might not be able to make it for a chat and a cup of tea." For more details, or if you need help attending, call the Archive Center on 01736 796408 or 07480 149243. Full details of all these events are contained in a printed programme, copies of which will be available around the town.