For the last few years, the Midsomer Norton and Radstock Branch of the Royal British Legion have held a Dressing of the Graves service, in which we lay a posy of poppies on Commonwealth and Churchyard War Graves in the Midsomer Norton area.
This is usually done on the Saturday before Remembrance Sunday, with the posies sponsored by local people and the donations going to the Poppy Appeal. My wife, Pattie, had the idea, as we are very keen walkers, to link all sixteen cemeteries and churchyards in a three-day walk covering thirty one miles.
We did the walk for the first-time last year, mid-summer, in the pouring rain and got soaked to the skin and raised over £200 for Branch Funds. We did the walk again this year on the last weekend of June, it was unbelievably hot for the three days, but well worth it as we have raised over £550 for the Branch.
Pattie and I, are both members of the RBL and were joined on this walk by a walking friend, George Upton, who helped keep spirits high when we were all flagging in the heat.
We wish to thank family, friends, members and people we met on route, who helped raise this magnificent amount for the branch. Will we do it again next year? Watch this space. Will Nicol