This year Remembrance Day will hold a particular poignancy as it appears certain that our armed forces will be involved in some form of conflict at the time when the nation as a whole is giving thanks for the sacrifices made by previous generations of servicemen and women.

It happens that this year is the 80th year of the foundation of the Royal British Legion and I would ask that the wonderful work that the Legion does to help ex-service personnel and their dependants should be carried on by a bumper collection in response to this appeal.

This year, more than ever, the Legion needs volunteers to act as collectors for the appeal and I would ask anybody interested to contact the Mayor's Office, Civic Offices, St. Nicholas Way, Sutton SM1 1EA where your name will be passed to the local organiser for your area. Any help that you can give will be much appreciated.

Can I urge you to give generously as it may be that there will be a significant number of casualties, though we hope and pray that this will be not be so.

I shall be attending the Borough's Act of Remembrance which takes place this year at the Cheam War Memorial, followed by a Service in St. Dunstan's Church. The Act of Remembrance itself will be at 3.45pm and it would be helpful if you could assemble some few minutes before that time. As many people will know, the Rector at Cheam is a former Naval Chaplain so it would be appropriate if many ex-service personnel are able to attend both the Act of Remembrance and the following service.

Councillor John Leach

Mayor of Sutton

October 26, 2001 17:00