North Devon Beavers learn about Remembrance from charity visit

Young visitors discovered more about Remembrance Day and got to make their own poppy wreaths during a visit to The Veterans Charity in Barnstaple.

The 5th North Devon (Bishops Tawton) Beavers enjoyed an interactive session organised by Beaver Leader, Cherry (Gwen Rider) when they dropped in at Veteran’s HQ to meet charity CEO Danny Greeno.

Danny provided an educational talk and Q&A session on Remembrance, then the Beavers enjoyed poppy-related craft activities, including making strings of poppies to hang-up and various colouring-in sheets.

They were also given the privilege to put together a re-cycled poppy wreath to send on a train to London from Barnstaple as part of the charity’s annual Routes of Remembrance initiative to Paddington Station, to be laid at The Great Western Railway War Memorial on Armistice Day tomorrow (Tuesday, November 11).

Located on Platform 1, the 'Tommy' figure was created by sculptor Charles Sargeant Jagger and commemorates the 2,500 employees of the Great Western Railway (GWR), as well as honouring those who served in the world Wars and gave their lives for King and country.

Above: The 5th North Devon (Bishops Tawton) Beavers making poppy wreaths at Veterans HQ in Barnstaple.

At end the end of the session, Cherry proudly presented two Beavers with their Chief Bronze Awards before swim up to Cubs in January.

They were all given a pin badge and a commemorative packet of poppies as part of The Veterans Charity’s worldwide remembrance initiative, The Ribbon of Poppies.

Above: Beaver Scarlett with a poppy wreath. 

The campaign sees the charity invite communities, individuals, schools, and organisations across the globe to plant poppies to create vibrant displays that stretch like a ribbon across the landscape.

Each poppy represents remembrance, respect and unity while also helping to enhance the environment and support wildlife.

You can find out more about the campaign and the welfare work of The Veterans Charity for former members of the armed forces at https://www.veteranscharity.org.uk