"My visit to the Submarine Memorial Service at the Arboretum 2024 by Mitch Sneddon"

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On Saturday the 25th May, I attended, with my wife Sue, the 2nd Annual Submariners Memorial at The National Memorial Arboretum by Alrewas near Burton In Trent in Staffordshire.  The event took place in the shadow of the incredible Submariners Memorial that was unveiled in May 2022.   

 

On the day of the Memorial Service, the weather was sunny and warm.  Reports by The Arboretum staff were that there were almost 400 in attendance for this very emotional ceremony.  

 

14 Standard bearers from The Submariners Association, We Remember Submariners & TS Venomous who assisted at the Ceremony, formed a guard of honour in front of the Submariners Memorial.

 

A complementary lunch was hosted at the Arboretum after the event.

 

Music was provided by Band of The Royal Marines.

 

The Event was hosted and supported by the following Charity and Submarine organisations:

• The Submarine Family

• We Remember Submariners

• The Submariners Association

• Friends of the Submarine Association

• HMS Oardacious 

• The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity

The Service was led by the Rev Mark Street.

 

Dignatories who spoke at the event included 

• COSM, Commodore Paul Dunn OBE RN.

• Chair of the Submarine Family, Peter Wilkinson, Vice Admiral Rtd CB, CVO.

• Holly Elliot (TS Venomous).

• Steve Phillips.

• John Badbury.

Wreathes were laid by:

• On behalf of the Submarine Service - COSM - Cmdre P Dunn OBE.

• On behalf of The Submarine Family - TSF Chair -Vice Admiral Peter Wilkinson CB CVO Rtd.

• On behalf of We Remember Submariners-  WRS Chair - Michael Dewhirst.

• On behalf of the Submariners Association - SA Chair - Iain McKenzie.

• On behalf of friends of the Submarine Museum - FOTRNSM Chair - Rear Admiral Jonathon Westbrook CBE Rtd.

The service can be viewed via the following link to 'YouTube':  Royal Navy Submariner Remembrance Service at National Memorial Arboretum 25 May 2024