The Face of Remembrance Day in Swindon 2015

Today was Remembrance Day in Swindon. I was there as usual and true to (my) form I have recorded some of the faces of Remembrance in Swindon. They are all locals and that includes Robert Buckland Conservative MP for Swindon South and Solicitor General for England and Wales. Along with Justin Tomlinson, Conservative MP for Swindon North and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Disabled People.

I had a number of interesting discussions some of which centred around the fact that quite a few of the RBL standard bearers are getting older and wont be able to carry them for much longer there are not many younger people joining and willing to carry the standard at all of these type of events. Despite there being a very large contingent of Army, Army Reservists, Cadets from all three branches of the services not many of them are joining the RBL.

After saying that I am sure this event will continue for many years to come.

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Friday at Fairford my day at RIAT

Well, Friday was spent at the first day of Fairford RIAT 2014. Despite it being a cloudy day I still managed to get sunburnt and the clouds were high enough to not affect any of the flying displays. It was a nice day but exhausting and was pretty tired by the end of the day. The Red Arrows of course were the star attraction of the day as the F-35 was cancelled due to engine problems back in the USA. I managed to take 600 images so this is a very very very small selection of the day.

And as I understand it the good people of Swindon got a really good view of the Red Arrows as they flew over a couple of times, nice.

Holmes Music Store Vinyl Record Weekend

Well, here I am back again. It has been a very busy few weeks and hence no posts for quite a while. Not the least I ran the London Marathon last Sunday. I wasnt happy with my time as I got tripped up at mile 5 and face planted the road. However I was very very proud of Kirsty Heber-Smith who ran it in a time of 3.44, exactly as we had planned it and also raised £2.5K for the charity Goldenhar which is one close to our hearts. If you dont know what Goldenhar is please chaeck it out, it’s worth it.

Anyhow back to photography. I spent several hours over two days at Alan Holmes Music shop where they were celebrating Vinyl Record weekend with lots of live music by local bands and artists. I wont list them all out as there were too many to mention, but I was impressed with all of them. Have to say the lighting was a nightmare as they had a back drop of the window and day 1 was bright sunshine, day 2 was dark clouds and rain!!! good old British Easter eh!!!! However the good thing about situations like that is firstly it is good to work in difficult situations that are out of your control and secondly you can get up close and personal and nobody minds.

It was a good weekend. I have also a very busy week coming up this week, lots of photographic jobs on so should be posting a lot in the next week and less rambling on 🙂

Peter Duncan and the cast of Birdsong at the Wyvern and the Cenotaph

Peter Duncan Birdsong

Peter Duncan Birdsong

Peter Duncan Birdsong

Birdsong the cast

Birdsong the cast

Birdsong the cast

Tom Stimpson MBE

Peter Duncan

I was lucky enough to photograph and meet the cast of Birdsong (as show based on the book by Sebastian Faulks) which included Peter Duncan, Jonny Clarke and George Banks. They were in costume, uniforms from the First World War which was quite strange when we were taking photos at the Cenotaph in the Swindon Town Centre. The cast also met Tom Stimpson MBE the representative and ambassador for Help for Heroes charity. Firstly I had a really good chat with Peter Duncan. The last time I spoke to him was at around mile 20 of the first London Marathon which we both ran. I also had a really good chat with Tom Stimpson MBE. Tom is ex RAF as am I but Tom was unfortunately injured in Afghanistan and has suffered from PTSD and now campaigns on behalf of Help for Heroes and other mental disability charities.

All in all a very interesting couple of hours.

Simon Weston and Mike Penning at Swindon Disability Conference

Simon Weston and Mike Penning

Simon Weston

Mike Penning

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting and photographing Simon Weston Falklands War Veteran and disability campaigner. Along with Mike Penning Minister of State for Disabled People at the Swindon SEQOL Disability Confident Conference held at the Steam Museum. Both really nice guys to talk to, in fact everybody there was a pleasure to work with and talk to.

Dame Trot meets Swindon Rugby Club

Dame Trot and Swindon Rugby

Dame Trot and Swindon Rugby

Dame Trot and Swindon Rugby

Dame Trot and Swindon Rugby

Dame Trot and Swindon Rugby

Dame Trot and Swindon Rugby

Dame Trot and Swindon Rugby

Dame Trot and Swindon Rugby

Dame Trot and Swindon Rugby

This lunchtime I did a photo shoot at the Wyvern Theatre, Dame Trot and Swindon Rugby Club. Two members of the Rugby Club met Dame Trot and presented her with a copy of their calendar. Dame Trot (David Ashley) was an absolute star and I laughed from start to finish. After their initial ‘shyness’ the rugby players got into the Panto spirit and played along with it all. The calendar was produced by Swindon Rugby Club to raise money for the Baby Unit Charity at GWH.

I have said this a thousand times but if you have not seen Jack and the Beanstalk at the Wyvern yet you must go. It is getting rave reviews, that aside it is just such a laugh.

Fleshcreep Simon Wegrzyn meets Swindon at Old Town Lights Switch On

simon wegrzyn

Simon Wegryzn and Mayor Nick Martin

Simon Wegrzyn and STFC

Simon Wegryzn and Rockin Robin

Simon Wegryzn

simon wegrzyn

Simon Wegryzn

Simon Wegryzn

Last night was the Switch On of the Christmas Lights in Swindon Old Town. I had a lot of fun photographing Simon Wegryzn who plays Fleshcreep in this years Panto Jack and the Beanstalk at The Wyvern Theatre. Not only was he a really nice guy he was so easy to direct and was really happy to do anything I asked of him. I am really looking forward to seeing him and the rest of the cast at the Panto over Christmas.

I Love Christmas in Swindon

merry xmas with Swindon Ovation

merry xmas with Swindon Ovation

Merry xmas with Swindon Ovation

merry xmas with Swindon Ovation

merry xmas with Swindon Ovation

Dont you just love Christmas, well I certainly did on Thursday night at the Swindon Lights Switch on. Back stage with the girls from Swindon Ovation dance group.

Reminds me of the song All I Want For Christmas ……

The Face of Remembrance in Swindon

Swindon Remembrance

Swindon Remembrance

Swindon Remembrance

Swindon Remembrance

Swindon Remembrance

Swindon Remembrance

Swindon Remembrance

Swindon Remembrance

Swindon Remembrance

Swindon Remembrance

Swindon Remembrance

Swindon Remembrance

Nothing to say on this really other than that the Remembrance Parade, Service, Ceremony here in Swindon is still as strong as ever after a large turn out of both those who took part in the parade and the public who came to support. The weather was perfect, a bright sunny November day.

Royal Wootton Bassett Field of Remembrance Opening Ceremony

Emma Hickman and daughter

Field of crosses

Steve of the RBL

Lt Col S O’Herlihy MBE RM

Emma Hickman and daughter

Emma Hickman and daughter

Legion Rider

Lt Col S O’Herlihy MBE RM

Wounded Veteran

Crowds gathered in the pouring rain to remember the brave servicemen and women who fought and died in the Afghanistan conflict at a service at The Royal British Legion’s Field of Remembrance at Royal Wootton Bassett today.

Some 46,000 crosses have been planted within the walled garden in Lydiard Park in Remembrance to the 446 Service people that have been killed since the start of the conflict in 2001. A number of civic dignitaries, guests, members of the Armed Forces and school children planted crosses during the service.

For me the most poignant of all was young Emma Hickman and her baby daughter. Emma was the fiancee of Private Daniel Wade who was killed in Afghanistan in 2012.