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Remember Poppy Day
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Remembering The Many Who Have Fought Or
Died In The Wars & Those Affected By Their
Sacrifices |
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Please Observe Two Minutes Silence at 11am
on Armistice Day (11th November) or on
Remembrance Sunday
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How The Remember Poppy Day Project Started
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Chris Grace tells us how he was inspired to write the
poem which started the Remember Poppy Day project |
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“I was admiring the beautiful poppy field
painting by Teresa Scannella (which is being
sold as part of this project to raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Society)
on the
Surrey Artists website and it made me think more deeply about the
sacrifices of those who fought in the war |
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Having watched the superb Battle of Britain
programmes on TV showing the courage of just
some of the many people who fought in the wars,
it made me feel guilty that I rarely remember to
stop for the 2 minutes silence and respect. |
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Writers of
Remember Poppy Day
Olly Wedgwood
(Music) & Chris Grace (Lyrics) |
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That's partly through being so busy yourself, but also a
change in habits and environment. If eveyone
else is also busy and rushing around, they often
don't stop, and in most cases you do the same. |
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In the past, radio stations on all
channels would stop to announce and observe the
2 minutes silence, which was a useful reminder. |
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What is a minute or two of our lives compared to
the years they gave? That inspired me to write
the first part of the poem; " |
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I remember when I was
young
a strange day in a crowded town
everyone rushing and then a bell
people stood
like statues and silence fell |
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Buses
halted, although planes still flew
Factories
stopped and offices too
And then I heard my
Mother say
Remember, this is Poppy Day |
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We all live such hectic lives these days
As we rush around and round
forgetting it’s
poppy day,
and forgetting those so still in
the ground |
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So take a minute of your life
to remember
a minute's so much less than the
years
of their lives, they gave for me and
you
and remember the survivors and their
tears |
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(this is a short extract) |
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A recent interest in Family Tree
programmes like ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ gave
Chris the ideas for the part about the survivors
and for other verses. “The programmes made me
realise that so many men didn’t speak of the
past, often due to their awful experiences. So
it occurred to me that although we have a day to
remember the dead, they aren’t the only victims.
The survivors are victims too and they should be
in our thoughts. |
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The final thread of the
poem is about the families and friends of those
killed or injured. They need to be able to move
on with their lives and be happy”. |
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But
then after all the sad moments,
remember to
be happy
It's what they would have wanted for
us
when they died for you and for me |
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| For 4 years
Chris has been a fan of two very talented Surrey
singers and songwriters, Olly & Sam Wedgwood. "They are
both world class but not well known, because
they never had the break their talents deserve".
If you’ve ever had a piano lesson, the chances
are you learnt from a piano book by their
mother, Pam Wedgwood
(sales of over half a million books), Their
father Denis was Principal Cornet in the
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent
Garden for 9 years. With
both parents being talented musicians, Olly &
Sam started playing a multitude of instruments
to the highest level from a
young age, |
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teamed up with better musicians. |
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| Olly Wedgwood
& Sam Wedgwood |
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| “I've been working with
both brothers recently with their separate acts.
Everyone who hears their music is so impressed. |
| I was delighted when
Olly was moved by the poem and wanted us to
release it as a single. |
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intricate but delicate piano playing and
passionate and sensitive vocals are so
appropriate. Further emotion and drama is added
by the superb saxophone of Georgi Bartlett, who
Chris recommended after hearing her performances
with Elmbridge Big Band and Choir, of which he
is a member. Backing vocals are provided by Sam
Wedgwood, who for well over a year toured the
world’s major arenas with Jamie Cullum as
guitarist, vocalist and trumpeter”. |
| "It's been
an emotional roller coaster, since the poem and
song are very moving and the subject of wartime
loss is, of course, still so real for many
families today. On the other side of the
emotions is the pleasure from working with
such great artists and musicians who have
become good friends. I would be delighted if
this helps Olly & Sam get some of the
recognition they deserve. They really are two of
the most talented singers and musicians in the
country". |
| "The video
can be viewed on this website. You can also see
the video on YouTube by searching for 'Olly
Wedgwood Poppy Day' I hope you like it - please
give it the thumbs up on Youtube and let your
friends know. |
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all, on 11th November, preferably at 11am,
please take two minutes of your life to remember." |
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The
Single Is Available Here |
See The Video | The
Full Poem | The Poppy Art
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Home Page & Video |
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Remember Poppy Day Single |
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Listen or
Download |
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Other Olly Wedgwood Music & Videos |
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Article - About
The Project |
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How You Can Help |
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Poem - Full Length |
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Song Lyrics |
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Art Prints & Cards |
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Poppy Appeal Prize Draw |
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Educational Resources |
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Official RBL Poppy Appeal Song for 2014:
'No
Man's Land (Green Fields Of France) -
Joss Stone |
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Official RBL Poppy Appeal Song for 2013: 'The Call' -
The Poppy Girls |
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Other Remembrance Day
Poems / Songs |
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Events |
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Debate & Forum |
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Sam Wedgwood |
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Georgi Bartlett |
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Photos |
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Contact Us |
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| The First Two Minute Silence in
London (11 November 1919) was reported in the
Manchester Guardian on 12 November 1919:
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| After writing the poem, I found this account
on Wikipedia of the
first two minute silence and it brings to
life the first passage of the poem, although in
an era pre-modern technology; |
| "The first stroke of
eleven produced a magical effect. The tram cars
glided into stillness, motors ceased to cough
and fume, and stopped dead, and the
mighty-limbed dray horses hunched back upon
their loads and stopped also, seeming to do it
of their own volition. |
| Someone took off his
hat, and with a nervous hesitancy the rest of
the men bowed their heads also. Here and there
an old soldier could be detected slipping
unconsciously into the posture of 'attention'.
An elderly woman, not far away, wiped her eyes,
and the man beside her looked white and stern.
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| Everyone stood very
still ... The hush deepened. It had spread over
the whole city and become so pronounced as to
impress one with a sense of audibility. It was a
silence which was almost pain ... And the spirit
of memory brooded over it all". |
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| Photos courtesy of
Rachael Talibart |
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The Remember Poppy Day
Team
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Left to right: |
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Olly Wedgwood
writer - music,
piano, vocals |
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Georgi Bartlett
saxophone |
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Chris Grace
writer - poem &
lyrics, website |
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Teresa Scannella
artist - poppy
fields painting |
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Sam Wedgwood
backing vocals &
various instruments |
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Rachael Talibart
photographer
(this side of the lens!) |
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Remember Poppy Day
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Contact Us
email: info@remember-poppy-day.com
Tel from the UK:
01483 771 345 |
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Tel from outside the UK: +44
1483 771 345 |
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Optional Additional Charity Donation |
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| If you would like to make an
additional contribution, we have set up
a fundraising page for the Royal British
Legion's Poppy Appeal. To donate, click
on the image on the right. |
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www.remember-poppy-day.com |
Please Observe Two Minutes Silence at 11am
on Armistice Day (11th November) or on
Remembrance Sunday
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£400 raised for
Alzheimer's
Society |
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| Live Radio Appearances |
| Please note: since these BBC Radio
appearances, the proportion to the charities has been raised to 100% of
profits to Poppy Apeal for all Music and 50% on Art & Cards to
Alzheimer's Society |
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| 104FM | 104.6 FM |
Hear a
recording
of Chris live on
BBC Radio Surrey
&
BBC Radio Sussex |
Chris was live from the Guildford studios as a
main
feature
discussing the Remember Poppy Day Project |
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Also the
Sarah Gorrell Show |
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| 95.3FM | 104.5FM | 104.8FM | DAB |
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| International TV |
| Olly was filmed by Inter, the leading Ukranian
TV Channel for broadcast on their peak news programmes on November 11th
(up to 40 million viewers) |
See
Ukranian TV
News Coverage |
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Hear a recording
of Olly live on
BBC
3 Counties Radio |
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95.5FM | 103.8 FM | 1045FM |
Olly was live from the Luton studios as a main
feature
and also had another
Radio interview with
BBC Radio
Milton Keynes |
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| Some of your comments |
| "Really lovely and moving , well done!" |
| Alison Davey |
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| “I looked at the website and after
listening to the song and seeing the photos I was filled with
such emotion that I am still crying now as I write this email. |
| You have done an incredible job
putting this together and I really do feel privileged to be part
of it. I wish everyone huge success.” |
Teresa Scannella
Woking Surrey |
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| "Love the song and lyrics " |
Linda Stone
Hinchley Wood, Surrey |
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