This Year’s NAVAD took place on Wednesday the 1st of October at the National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas.
The previous 2 years National Atomic Veterans Awareness Day has taken place in the Millennium Chapel, but this year we took a risk with the weather and decided to hold the full service at the memorial itself. It was the right decision as this year we were blessed with warm temperatures and sunshine, a complete contrast to the previous years of rain.
The service was conducted by The Very Revd Dr Nicholas Frayling KStJ, Chaplain to the British Nuclear Tests Veterans’ Association.
We gathered together at the memorial for 11.30, there was a slight technical hitch as we lost power to the PA system, but in the short period of time to fix it, we were entertained by the Bugler Antonio Socci, with a small repertoire of tunes from the 40s.
Nicholas began the service with a prayer which was followed by Alan Owen reading a passage from St John’s Gospel. This was followed by the Prayers and then the Act of Remembrance itself.
The Act of Remembrance
The Chaplain: We solemnly remember before God all those, both military and civilian, who have died as a consequence of British nuclear tests in Australia and the Pacific.
They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old, Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in morning, We will remember them.
All: We will remember them
The Bugler followed this by playing the Last Post, followed by the Silence and the Reveille.
In the last part of the service, wreaths were laid by one of the veterans on behalf of Labrats International and another by Ian Hall, Chairman of the NCCF. This was followed with a concluding prayer and the Blessing.
These events form the bedrock of the community, leading naturally into the personal stories of service that define its members.
