War and Peace
When I was about fourteen I played the cornet with the Staveley Works Junior Brass Band. On the first Sunday following Armistice Day we always provided musical accompaniment to the Remembrance Service at the war memorial on Brimington Common, near Chesterfield, Derbyshire. It was always very cold but an extremely poignant event because of the quiet and sombre mood of the service.
This photograph is to remind me that even though the poppy is a strong visual symbol of remembrance and the importance of peace, we should never forget that war is always lurking in the background.
Images, Ideas, Reflections 
This is a really engaging image. One that demands a moment of our time and encourages the viewer to reflect on the qualities and subject of the image and also the sentiment. It is understated and quietly powerful. It also works on lots of levels and I hope people will perhaps be drawn in by it’s layered qualities. It is a photo which visually offers a less romanticised representation of remembrance. Without going into detail, there are many things that happen at this time of year that sometimes make me feel that people have actually lost touch with what the Poppy symbolises and what remembrance is all about. Your image is respectful and has both weight and meaning. Thank you for sharing the image and your words.
Thank you for your kind comment.