Shropshire volunteers to form part of Remembrance Day parade at Cenotaph
Volunteers from Shropshire will represent the British Red Cross in the annual Cenotaph Parade in Whitehall on Remembrance Sunday.
Rob Millington and Gary Stevens, will be among 21 British Red Cross representatives from across the UK representing the charity
Rob, 32, from Donnington, has volunteered with the Red Cross for five years.
He volunteers with the organisation’s event first aid service and its emergency response service which supports people affected by house fires and floods.
On Sunday he will join together with colleagues to form part of a guard of honour around the Cenotaph during the Service of Remembrance organised by the Royal British Legion.
The event, led by Prince Charles, will be attended by thousands of former servicemen and women, politicians and the general public who gather to remember all who have suffered and died in conflict in the service of their country and all those who mourn them.
Rob has volunteered at home matches at Shrewsbury Town as well as firework displays in Wem.
He has also volunteered at events including the British Grand Prix in Silverstone, Three Counties Show in Malvern and marathons and half marathons throughout the Midlands.
Rob said: “My brother is a vehicle technician in the army, my granddad was in the Royal Horse Artillery and my nan was in the Women’s Land Army. I’m proud to be representing the Red Cross and to have the opportunity to pay my respects to all those people who
have served and who have fallen.”
Gary Stevens, 46, from Hambrook, Shrewsbury, will ‘march past’ the Cenotaph following the formal ceremony.
He has volunteered as an event first aider for 16 years. His highlights include covering the Rod Stewart concert at Shrewsbury Town, Status Quo at Eastnor Castle and the Badminton Horse Trials.
He said: “It’s an incredible honour to be part of Remembrance. My grandfather fought in the second world war and my uncles were in the navy so to have been chosen to pay my respects on Sunday is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
The Red Cross Movement still plays an important humanitarian role in conflicts around the world providing vital support for refugees, reuniting families torn apart by war, and helping people rebuild their lives when the fighting stops.
Across the county, Red Cross staff and volunteers will be taking part in smaller-scale Remembrance Day events in many towns and villages, laying poppy wreaths and observing two minutes of silence to remember those killed or injured during conflict.
To find out more about the Red Cross visit redcross.org.uk.
