Bringing a close to a weekend of remembrance events, today the Member of Parliament for Eastleigh, Mims Davies, had wreaths laid at remembrance services across her constituency to mark exactly 100 years since the armistice in 1918 brought an end to World War One. The local MP herself laid a wreath in Botley where she unveiled the villages new Centenary Poppy Memorial, before afterwards attending an evening service at the Royal Victoria Country Park.
Earlier in the week, the newly appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Sport and Civil Society closed a debate in the House of Commons Chamber marking the Armistice, where she remembered local constituent, Norman Brown MBE, who personally raised £1 million over the 25 years that he gave to the Royal British Legion.
Commenting, Eastleigh MP Mims Davies said:
“Again this year I have worn my red poppy with pride as we have all paid tribute to those who tragically paid the ultimate price, those who went to serve their country and all those who continue to serve their country.
“Selling poppies also does a huge amount of good, and with that in mind, I was delighted to join local members of the Royal British Legion at Asda in Chandler’s Ford on Thursday, where, as always, local residents dug deep for this brilliant cause.
“On Friday I visited the poignant Remembrance Commemoration in flowers at St Andrew’s Church in Hamble, before joining Fair Oak Councillor, Steve Broomfield, to see the wonderful Wall of Remembrance that local residents created at St Thomas’s Church in Fair Oak on Saturday.”
“On a bright Sunday morning it was lovely to catch-up with the Air Training Corps in Hedge End, before making my way to Botley where it was an honour to represent my constituents and lay a wreath honouring our local heroes who have fought to protect our freedom, and unveil a really special new Centenary Poppy Memorial - a focal point for the Botley community for years to come.
“Meanwhile, at 11am today local champions within our community laid wreaths on my behalf at remembrance services across the constituency, including in Eastleigh, Netley, Hamble, Hedge End, Fair Oak, Bursledon and West End, which I humbly thank them for.
“This evening I attended a moving service at the Royal Victoria Country Park, and as Eastleigh’s MP I want to give my sincere thanks to all of those who did so much to make all of these events, and so many others across our area, so special.”
The Eastleigh MP is a passionate advocate for the Royal British Legion, annually ordering her poppy wreaths from the local RBL branch, and supporting their work across the constituency, while also previously serving as a Trustee for the charity Building Heroes, which provides skills training to Military Veterans, as well as support into employment in the building trade.