On Saturday 3 July, a small group of us met at the Czechoslovak Army Memorial stone in the grounds of Cholmondeley Castle. We had hoped that we would have been holding the delayed 80th Anniversary event, but with the full unlock delayed by two weeks it wasn’t possible. Instead, the MAFCSV executive team and those who were within the local area came to take park in the service of remembrance given by the Reverend Diggle and to lay a wreath in remembrance of all the Free Czechoslovak Forces from WWII.
We were thrilled to be joined by The Marquess of Cholmondeley and wonderful estate team, led by James Hall the Estate Manager. Their continued support and care of the memorial area is hugely appreciated as they work so hard behind the scenes.
The Chair Gerry Manolas read the following welcome and introduction to this years event:
“In the year since members of the MAFCSV last met here, we have continued to face many challenges, some we have faced all together such as lockdown, and others we have had to face alone.
So long as we had access to family, friends, or colleagues, whether virtual or face to face, many of these challenges were bearable.
When we were down, we relied on others to lift our spirits. When we were seriously ill, we had doctors, nurses, and carers to look after us. When we needed inspiration, we had people like Captain Tom Moore to remind us that we all have something to offer no matter our ages or abilities.
It has been a challenge for many of us to be here today. It is not the event we had envisaged but we are still here to remember our veterans.
I am sure if they were here today their advice to us would be to ‘get on with it’. This is not a challenge – more of an inconvenience.
You can imagine them arriving here in the summer of 1940 after the Fall of France, the chaotic rear-guard action they had been part of the desperation they had seen and felt and their bodies and minds pushed to the limit through lack of sleep and proper food for weeks.
That’s what they would say was a proper challenge!
To keep going and believing and never giving up after all of that, I think that is truly inspirational. Let us draw on that and resolve that next year around this memorial stone we will all be part of the anniversary event.
For now, we honour them the best way we can, knowing they would understand.”
The MAFCSV would like to offer our sincere thanks to Ted Fellowes who placed the Last Post and Reveille. It never ceases to amaze me that during the 2 minutes silence the trees around seem to rustle and whisper with the spirits of our veterans, as if they are with us during our remembrance.
After the service we visited the chapel in small groups to look at the Czechoslovak standards that are kept there. We are working together to try and research them and find out more about their history. If anyone knows anything about their story, we would love to hear from you.
The MAFCSV are very keen to continue to develop the links with the next generation, in particularly the Czech and Slovak schools in Manchester and Bickerton Holy Trinity C of E Primary School. The Director of Slovak School and Community Manchester Anna Pazdurova and some of the children were due to be with us this weekend, but we all agreed that due to the local Covid restrictions it would be better to welcome them all in person next year. Instead, they sent us some photos and short song clip.
We hope to welcome you all back again next year and hope you keep safe and well in the meantime.
