Remembrance Sunday 2023 at The Cenotaph, Urmston, Manchester
 
Here we are again, one of my favourite days when everyone comes together to Remember and Celebrate those who sacrificed everything and those who have been left with life changing injuries to keep our way of life, our families, our free speech and our freedom in this United Kingdom and countries beyond.
Well for the first time in quite a few years it decided to pour down and continued to rain all the way to the Cenotaph, it certainly didn’t deter the crowds in any way, they flocked to the Library in the centre of Urmston where the Parade Marshall gets everyone lined up in their allotted places for the march down to Davyhulme Circle which is a fair distance.
One Special Veteran was there with us, W.Bro. Anthony (Tony) Johnson. PGJD who is a member of Flixton Shepherd Eastwood Mark Lodge 1173, why you may wonder is he special, well he is 104 years old and believed to be the oldest Veteran, certainly in Manchester. Having heard about Tony he created so much interest in every ones minds that Granada Reports sent a news team along and had a good long chat with him, I noticed that when the young lady came to speak to him he insisted on standing up from his wheel chair and for me  that tells you a lot about the man.
The Cenotaph Parade was called to order we were lead off by an excellent marching band, Peter pushed Tony’s to Cenotaph, of Tony’s wheelchair whilst other members of the Mark Degree formed his escort, on the way it halted for a few minutes whilst the Mayoress of Manchester laid a wreath at the smaller Cenotaph, which is just inside Golden Hill Park, Urmston. Then off we went again between the crowds who had gathered on either side of the road all the way to Davyhulme War Memorial, which is placed inside a large roundabout, it was circled once before all those who had wreaths to lay gathered at the front ready for the Ceremony to start.
It was estimated that the crowd this year was in excess of 1500 people, even though the weather was shocking, an excellent Service was conducted by the Rev Spence, you could have heard a pin drop during the two minutes silence, it was as always very moving.
Once the names were called for wreath laying in line with the Royal British Legion protocol the ceremony was concluded and the main parade returned back to the centre of Urmston whilst Tony and his escort of Mark Masons took a more leisurely pace back to his sons car, apparently a party had been organised by Peter with most of his family attending, I would love to have seen his face when he got back.
There was a short item on the ITV News by Granada Reports showing Tony being interviewed and considering his age he still speaks very well, and we are all very proud of him, on parting we all wished him well and said see you again next year.
 
 
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Words and pictures by Austin N Fletcher. PGJD. Flixton Shepherd Eastwood Mark. No. 1173
“The Magic of the Mark”