Yet again the gods smiled on us at Brookwood and gave us a bright sunny day for our event on 27th October. Having been over the day before to try and make sure the plot was clear of leaves and fallen twigs and branches in the pouring rain you can imagine how relieved I was.
This year we were thrilled to be joined by the Deputy Ambassador for the Slovak Embassy, Mr. Marcel Babicz. He gave up a family afternoon to be with us, which was greatly appreciated. We were also pleased to welcome Tomas Kaspar the new Administrative Assistant to the Czech Defence Attaché and Martin Hošek who is responsible for their Public Diplomacy. It was their first Brookwood event since taking up their new posts in London.
Saj Hussian the Deputy Mayor of Woking Borough Council came and laid a wreath and we were pleased to welcome back Cllr Cundy and his wife Sarah who has been with us for several of our events now.
Wreaths and flowers were also brought and laid at our monument by; Sophia Mika from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Mr. Angelo Munsel the Superintendent of the American Battle Monuments Commission at Brookwood, Mr. Stefan Kasprzyk from the Polish Air Force Association, Nick Nicholls from the Royal British Legion, Cadet Captain Michael McCaulife from the Frimley and Camberley Cadet Corps, Corporal Martina Tredgett (RAF), Georgina from Czechoslovak Memorial Fountain, Leamington Spa, children, parents, and staff from the Czech and Slovak Schools.
We enjoyed hearing Tomas Jones read out perfectly his amazing and very moving poem called ‘Creation’, which was inspired by previous visits to this event.
The children, staff, and parents from our Czech and Slovak Schools lead us with singing our 3 national anthems and then placed poppy crosses in front of each of the headstones in the military plot and a little electric candle in the civilian section. Mike and Su Herman laid a wreath at the Liberator headstone to remember our WAAF Edita Sedlakova and those who died in the crash with her.
Eddie Jones and Dagmar made us most welcome at their Trench Experience for our social event after, where we enjoyed refreshments and a catch-up.
A big thank you to Ruth Moore who played the last post and AJ Nicolas for liaising with the Frimley and Camberley Cadet Corps, the RBL and RAFA. The cadets and their staff were so professional and we loved having them with us for the first time. Also, to Mr. Vladimir Andell who came early to place a single red carnation on every headstone.
The Deputy Mayor Saj Hussain and our Deputy Slovak Ambassador Mr. Marcel Babicz judged our art competition and giving out prizes and certificates to the winners.
We look forward to welcoming you all to the next Brookwood event, which will be early May 2020 to remember the 80th anniversary of the arrival of Czechoslovak Troops in the UK in 1940.
