Dear LPG, 

I want to talk about what it was like last year at the time LPG posts my message. 

On the 11th of November 2022, I got up nice and early and found myself on the LPG website reading OV’s poem on the subject of remembrance, which rang so true for me (►►►).  I read it and promised myself I would not forget, but I did it again. 

I was on the way to meet a friend, and I promised myself that I would not let the time slip away this year, but it did. I checked at 11:15, and the next time I looked, it was seven minutes past. It was then that I remembered the words of that poem.

I was resolved to remember to get to Church in good time on Sunday two days later. Church had announced that the service would start 15 minutes earlier at 10:45, and I remembered when I started breakfast. Having only had one mouthful, I got ready extra quickly and got in the car and on the way. 

But as I do every year, I drove through Lewisham Park and got utterly caught up in the Lewisham borough’s memorial celebrations. The traffic was at its usual standstill, although I could hear the drums, marching and brass. I was too far back to see the march that heralds the parade, so for a few minutes, I had nothing to do but remember.

I wonder if any other drivers who found themselves stopped by traffic for a few compulsory armistice minutes only remembered that detail of the proceedings as they approached it.

I wonder what all the other drivers who found themselves stationary at about 10:30 that Sunday were remembering? I have to admit to busily being annoyed with myself for not having left earlier because I knew it would happen; it is the same every year, but I only remember when it is too late. I also had time to remember something else.  

I was taken back to my childhood when I was one of the taller members of the local Girls’ Brigade band. We used to march after Church every Sunday back then, and my height meant I was always at the back of the parade. There weren’t so many cars back then, so the traffic would have to drive slowly behind us and armed with only my bugle, my concentration and trumpeting were often interrupted by impatient car drivers hitting their horns, and just for a moment, I remembered my impatience from the opposite point of view. I considered my present predicament a little differently. 

I did make it to Church in time for our two minutes silence with seconds to spare, but I thought it would be a good idea to remind everyone about that particular traffic situation.  

If you are going to have to go that way at that time tomorrow or past any of the other borough’s remembrance parades, I hope my message today might remind you to leave early so that you can get to where you want to remember in time to think about what we all need to reflect on the day with a clear mind…

CE, Ladywell