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3 Trust poppy wreaths have been carried from Cornwall to the capital on board a convoy of special trains.

The Poppies to Paddington initiative was launched during the pandemic, when no-one could travel to mark Remembrance Sunday or Armistice Day.

The Night Riviera Sleeper from Penzance was the first of the 2024 trains to leave for London, flanked by a guard of honour. Among them were military personnel, as well as members of the Royal British Legion, the Veterans Charity, and the RNLI.

Neill Wilson, Progress Coordinator at Helston Community Hospital is also the Armed Forces Service Champion in our Armed Forces Community Network. He placed the first of the Trust's wreaths on board the 9.15pm train on Sunday 10 November.

The whole remembrance weekend is very important for our many colleagues with links to the armed forces. In particular our army medical service colleagues. Next week, the Royal Army Medical Corps is being amalgamated with the Royal Army Dental Corps and the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps. 3 corps will cease to exist and become 1: the Royal Army Medical Service. This year's event is the last before that happens. It is quite poignant for them.

"We need to remember the sacrifice that our forebears made. The freedoms that we enjoy now are because of their sacrifice and we have to remember."

Neill Wilson

The Great Western Railway (GWR) Sunday sleeper service was followed by 9 other Poppies to Paddington trains. These set off on Monday 11 November.

Each of the Trust's wreaths represents 1 of our areas for adult community services. They are west, central, and north and east. The other 2 were placed on the early morning train by Chief Executive Debbie Richards. She was joined at St Austell station by NHS colleagues and representatives from across the local community, including the Mayor, Councillor Julian Young.

"It was an honour for me to place the Trust's wreath on the Train this morning. It was a moving and solemn moment as we remembered those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms we all enjoy today."

Debbie Richards

Poppies to Paddington is part of The Veterans Charity's Routes of Remembrance. It was set up in partnership with GWR. Between them, the poppy trains carry hundreds of wreaths to the London station.

This year, those will be laid at the iconic war memorial on platform 1. This will be followed by a service of remembrance at 10.45am.

A display of 22,442 cascading poppy petals will be draped over the balconies either side of the memorial. The petals are recycled from wreaths collected during previous ceremonies.