Poppies to Paddington

Great Western Railway’s Poppies to Paddington initiative in 2020 was so successful that the train company invited the Lieutenancy to take part again this year. Tish Francis DL attended on behalf of the Lieutenancy, along with The Chair of Oxfordshire County Council, John Howson, and the Lord Mayor of Oxford, Mark Lygo.

Poppy wreaths were placed on a train going to Paddington station, where they were placed on Platform One, alongside more than 100 wreaths from the GWR network. A Service of Remembrance was held on Platform One, and this year was attended by Barbara McGregor from Bridgend, who recently entered the Guinness Book of Records as the longest-serving female in the Royal Navy.

More than 100 wreaths were taken by train to the capital as GWR again joined forces with The Veterans Charity to coordinate a Poppies to Paddington operation.

Following the success of last year’s event, when more than 250 wreaths were carried to Paddington, The Veterans Charity created a new Routes of Remembrance campaign.

This took in the whole country and featured 11 train operators, as well as ferry companies, airlines, veterans, businesses and private individuals.

Poppies to Paddington was created in 2020 to ensure communities within the GWR network could honour our fallen heroes despite the restrictions in place around Covid-19.