FOUR thousand poppies adorned Ken Ditchfield's Jeep when it went on parade at the Fremlin Walk shopping centre in Maidstone on Remembrance Day.

Ken, who runs the Jeep Raffle for the War and Peace Show, provided the vehicle in response to an appeal from the centre's management. They wanted a military vehicle as a focus for shoppers wishing to observe the two minute's silence at 11 am.

The short ceremony began with the sounding of the Last Post by bugler Barry Knight, a veteran bandsman of the Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment.

The Exhortation was then read by Jack Shearer, customer liaison manager for Fremlin Walk, who served with the Second Battalion of the Scots Guards. 

A solemn group of shoppers - including a number of service veterans wearing uniforms and medals - observed the silence. At the end Mr Shearer read the Kohima lament and Barry Knight sounded Reveille.

Ken Ditchfield, who attended with War and Peace regular Nobby Clark, is himself a veteran of the Royal Horse Artillery.

Jaine Rees, marketing manager of Fremlin Walk, said: "The Jeep created a focal point for shoppers who wanted to observe the two minutes' silence. It also attracted many people who wanted to buy poppies."

"The ceremony was very moving and quite emotional. I think people were glad to have the opportunity to take part."

END

THERE’LL be help for heroes of the Second World War at next year’s War and Peace Show. Everyone who served in the War is invited to attend free.

This follows the popularity of this year’s Show among veterans, when those who took part in the Normandy Invasion and the Battle of Arnhem were invited free.

Many were able to meet ‘The Forces Sweetheart’ Dame Vera Lynn, who signed autographs and was photographed with them. Dame Vera, whose recently released album topped the charts, has been invited to attend this year’s Show.

Veterans also had a chance to see once again, some of the vehicles, guns and other equipment with which they achieved victory.

Organiser Rex Cadman said: “We think it’s only fair to extend the invitation to all Second World War veterans wherever they served. They all contributed to the eventual victory and as far as I am concerned are all heroes”.

The War and Peace Show is the world’s biggest military vehicle spectacular and takes place at The Hop Farm, Paddock Wood, Kent. In addition to military vehicles there are living history displays, mock battles, 1940s style music, dancing and comedy, and the most extensive stall market for military memorabilia anywhere.

At this year’s show £15,000 was raised for the charity Help for Heroes.

The 2010 Show takes place from 21st - 25th July.

For further information contact Jacqui Curtis, Marketing Executive on 01622 870804 email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or Peter Cook on 01795 536915/07796 172680 This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Family tickets to the War and Peace Show will be available shortly from www.thehopfarm.co.uk

Hello my name is Mark, we attended this year's show and WOW what a show!!!!!!

NLBA (North London Barmy Army) Charity Fund Raising at War and Peace Show

Every year the NLBA chooses to help raise money for a different charity.  This year we chose COSMIC (Children of St Mary’s Intensive Care) www.cosmiccharity.com as one of our member’s nephews is being treated there.

	Every year at the War and Peace Show the NLBA has their party on the Tuesday night.  Over the last couple of years we have used this as a fund raiser for our chosen charity.  Following on from last year’s success Elvis was rebooked, with an admission price of £5 which included beer, a burger or hotdog and a disco and we also hold a raffle. This year the party night raised a total of £1200 which is up on last year’s amount and a couple of younger members carried out a 12-hour sponsored silence and raised £154.
	A few of you will know one of the members, Mario, better known to the NLBA as Blobby.  On Saturday afternoon, after a few beers. Mario, who was last seen clean shaven around 12 years ago, was persuaded to shave off his beard for charity. Many beers later Mario was brought up to the NLBA tent and was ratchet-strapped to a chair whilst a female member managed to shave him without drawing blood.  For submitting to this he managed to raise over £600. With other donations and collection buckets we raised an excess of £2000 at the show.
	Whilst at the War and Peace Show the NLBA  also donated a cheque for £3000 to last year's chosen charity, Help for Heroes.
	We would like to thank everyone that supported our Elvis night and donated to COSMIC charity.  Please come along and join us at next year's War and Peace on the Tuesday night.  It's all for a good cause. NLBA Charity Fund Raising at War and Peace Show