Live ChatSSAFA contingent to attend Remembrance Sunday march
08 November 2025
The time around Remembrance Sunday and November 11 is arguably the closest the United Kingdom has to a national day, and while not specifically a period of mourning, thoughts inevitably turn to those who served who are no longer with us.
On Remembrance Sunday, The Cenotaph on Whitehall is the focus of the nation’s commemorations and thousands of serving personnel, veterans, and family members march past Lutyens’ monument to the British and Commonwealth Fallen of the First and Second World Wars, and other conflicts.
A contingent some 50-strong from SSAFA takes part. This year, it will be led by Air Marshals Sir Simon Bollom and Steve Shell, respectively SSAFA’s National Chair and its CEO.
Two Air Marshals to lead the march-past? Yes, because - for the saddest of reasons - they have big boots to fill.
For many years, the march-past was organised and led by Kevin Trethowan, also late the Royal Air Force. Kev, as he was known, also spent decades supporting SSAFA as a volunteer and as Chair of the Brize Norton Service Committee.
Kev died in July, and his loss has been felt by many within SSAFA and in the wider community where he continued to serve long after his RAF days were behind him.
Kevin Trethowan, RAF Veteran and SSAFA Volunteer, Rest in Peace.
Sir Simon said: "I marched with Kev at last year’s Remembrance Parade. What a lovely person who has given so much over his military career and then to SSAFA.
"His great sense of humour and a light touch on the tiller kept us nearly in step last year, and I shall very much miss his good company this year and will remember him fondly."
Also remembering Kev is Charlotte Eadie, SSAFA Serving Community Manager, who writes: "Kevin served in the Royal Air Force and, since 1998, also volunteered with unwavering dedication as Chair of SSAFA's Brize Norton Service Committee. Even after stepping down as Chair a few years ago, he continued to offer his time, energy, and wisdom in a supporting role as a Community Volunteer. It was truly commendable and humbling to see how much support he gave."
All the volunteers at Brize Norton noted how Kevin was the epitome of a committed volunteer and a true gentleman. His presence was especially felt each year at The Cenotaph, where he marched proudly with SSAFA and took on the important responsibility of organising SSAFA’s marchers. His leadership, kindness, and quiet strength left a lasting mark on all who had the privilege to work alongside him. He is missed deeply, not only for his contributions but also for the warmth and integrity he brought to everything he did.
The existing volunteers have vowed to build upon the legacy that Kevin has left behind.
Mandy, Kev’s widow, will be at The Cenotaph this Sunday. She says: "It will be a challenge, but Kev’s image will be with me, and I will be so proud to wear his medals."
All at SSAFA send Mandy, and his family and friends, their very best wishes.
Memories of Remembrance
Below are more memories from people who will march with SSAFA on Remembrance Sunday, and we are privileged to be able to share these stories with you:
Wendy Findlay
Wendy, Branch Chair of SSAFA Glasgow and Renfrewshire, is one of those who will march at the Cenotaph. A former Major in the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME), she had postings to Iraq, the Balkans, and to Northern Ireland during her Armed Forces career.
For Wendy, there are three reasons for making the long journey up to London for Remembrance Sunday.
Wendy said: "It’s to represent SSAFA Glasgow and Renfrewshire but also in honour of my great-grandfather, Sergeant James Clark (RFA), who was a recipient of the Military Medal - awarded for bravery in the Battle of the Somme, and it’s also a chance to honour tall hose who serve and have served in the Armed Forces."
Paul Roebuck
Left: Veteran Paul Roebuck and his wife and children, and Right: his mother SSAFA Volunteer Marion Rennie.
Paul, from Huddersfield, will be escorting his mother - SSAFA West Yorkshire volunteer Marion Rennie - at the Cenotaph. Paul, however, is also a former Chief Petty Officer with some 22 years’ service in the Fleet Air Arm and RAF with deployments to Iraq, Kosovo, and Afghanistan.
Remembrance to him is simple, and means sacrifice and respect, and Paul says: It's an honour to be able to march in memory of so many.
Jane Fletcher
From left: Veterans Joseph Smyth, Eileen Smyth and Eric Fletcher, Rest in Peace.
A former reservist in 103 Battalion REME, Jane is taking part in the parade past the Cenotaph in remembrance of many family members who have served. These include her maternal grandfather and three siblings - respectively Joseph, Mervyn, Raymond, and Eileen Smyth - who served in the Army and the RAF in World War Two. On her father’s side is her grandfather and his brother - Eric and Alfred Fletcher - who were both in the RAF during the war.
Even further back, to before the Great War, was her paternal great-grandfather, Ernest Parsons, who joined the Grenadier Guards in 1909 before transferring to the Royal Flying Corps in 1912, and deployed to France in 1914 with the British Expeditionary Force.
She will remember, too, a great uncle, Louis Martin who served in France in the latter stages of the war in the Machine Gun Regiment before being demobbed in early 1919. Another great uncle, James Martin will be in her thoughts. James was killed in action aged 21 in 1916 in France.
But there is another.
Cpl Luke Would, Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Rest in Peace
Jane said: "It means a great deal to me to be able to remember and honour the many members of my family who served our country, some being injured or having lost their lives, including my late son, Corporal Luke Would who joined the Army aged 17 as a vehicle electrician, serving in Afghanistan and before his passing, in 2023, earning a total of five medals during his career."
Tom Ormrod
Veteran Royal Navy sailor Tom Ormond on parade in 1980.
Former Chief Petty Officer Tom, pictured above during Friday divisions at the stone frigate HMS Pembroke where he was an instructor at the Supply School around 1980, was deployed to the Far East during Konfrontasi, one of the most forgotten of the forgotten conflicts. (Konfrontasi was an armed conflict from 1963 to 1966 that resulted from Indonesia's opposition to the creation of the state of Malaysia from the Federation of Malaya. After Indonesian president Sukarno was deposed in 1966, the conflict ended peacefully.) Tom’s 23-year-career in the Royal Navy also saw him take part in anti-drug patrols and hurricane relief.
Now a SSAFA caseworker, Tom will proudly take part in the march-past, honouring fallen comrades.
Alison Butler
Alison's father, Fred Smart, RAF veteran, Rest in Peace.
Alison - or Ali as she is known - is a Welfare Support Officer for the RAF Personal Support and Social Work Service, living in Lincolnshire. In December, she - also an RAF veteran - will have worked for SSAFA for 14 years.
Her dad, Fred Smart, gave 22 years to the RAF and coincidentally left the service in 1987, the same year Ali joined. Like father, like daughter, she, too, worked in the same Communications Centre as her dad did.
Fred died two years ago, and Ali will be marching with her friend and colleague Paula Finch, in memory of Fred.
Ali says: "I would usually attend the Remembrance Service at Lincoln Cathedral with my son, who is currently a serving RAF Officer, but this year I’ll be honouring Dad in London on a special, a poignant day to get together and remember those who have died."
Stan Blacklock
Stan's photographic memories of his time training, and at the Hertford British Hospital.
Stan, who is 87, lives in Penrith. In addition to his time doing National Service beginning in 1957, Stan has clocked up ten years as a SSAFA caseworker, and has taken part in many commemorations on Remembrance Sunday at the Cenotaph.
His initial training was at Queen Elizabeth Barracks at Crookham, Aldershot, from where he was posted to Cambridge Military Hospital in Aldershot for training on the wards as a nursing orderly. Soon, he was posted to the Hertford British Hospital in Paris working on the wards.
Stan recalls: "The War Office had completed a complete refurb and built on a new extension. It was known to be one of the most modern hospitals at that time in Paris.
"The hospital was run by the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps (QARANC) alongside British and French civilian doctors and nurses, with its role as the hospital for SHAPE (Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe). It was a wonderful experience, and I learned a lot from it."
He added: "Remembrance Day for me is a very special day when we remember all who lost their lives in the two World Wars and of course other more recent wars. Being on Horse Guards Parade on that day means a lot and long may it continue throughout the generations to come."
Stephanie Starr
Stephanie's brother, Warrant Officer Jamie Gibbons-Sissons, Rest in Peace
Another marching with SSAFA this year at the Cenotaph is Stephanie Starr from West Sussex. Stephanie grew up in a military family. Her stepfather, Gary, was in the RAF as was Jamie Gibbon-Sissons, her elder brother and a younger brother, Rob Starr.
Jamie, a Warrant Officer with 23 years’ service, died last year. From the eulogy given at his funeral, it is clear that Jamie was respected, admired, loved, and liked in equal measure:
"Many of you will have experienced his unique energy, that signature laugh and his effortless ability to light up a room with a sarcastic joke, anecdote, or impression.
"He formed many friendships, connections, strong working relationships and even brotherhoods throughout his career; sometimes through his dark sense of humour, sometimes through apologising for his dark sense of humour.
"But there was one part of his career he was particularly proud of; being able to serve alongside his brother, Rob, who, along with his other siblings, Stephanie and Ashley, he loved dearly."
Stephanie says that to her Remembrance is to honour and thank all those who have served, are currently serving, or who will serve in the future, and all the friends and family who support them, adding: "I am beyond proud of you all."
Asked why she is taking part in commemorations at the Cenotaph, she simply said: "In memory of my big brother, and to honour him, and our parents, brothers, his fiancée Rox and his children, Keaton, Evie, and stepdaughter Ruby.
"Jamie was a much-loved son, brother, father, family member, & friend to so many and we miss him beyond measure. I am doing this for all of them too."
Scott Veitch
Scott, now a volunteer caseworker for SSAFA Berkshire, served in the Army from 1987 to 1999 with the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, completing three operational tours of Northern Ireland as well as taking part in the Gulf War, and in Bosnia as part of UNPROFOR.
He said: "I haven’t marched at the Cenotaph before and like all veterans I feel strongly about showing my support for serving personnel as well as the veteran community coming together to remember those who went before us and paid the ultimate sacrifice."
James Terry
Veteran soldier James, on a field exercise during his career.
James served for 24 years in 2nd Royal Tank Regiment until 2014, and began volunteering for SSAFA as a caseworker in Northamptonshire the following year, keen to give something back to the Armed Forces community.
Deployments during his time in 2RTR include Cyprus, Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
James noted that he will "be remembering too many to name that I served with in 2RTR and those that are losing the fight since leaving, and that taking part in the parade at the Cenotaph means a lot to me to remember all the heroes that have made the ultimate sacrifice for our today."
Jon Mansfield
Lincolnshire-based SSAFA volunteer Mentor Jon Mansfield is a veteran former navigator with the Hercules Fleet, No. 47 Squadron RAF, who includes in his list of notable deployments Northern Ireland, Iraq, Somalia, the Balkans, Kosovo, Sierra Leone, and Afghanistan.
Jon is taking part to honour those who served before, alongside, and after him who have fallen in the line of duty.
He added: "Remembrance to me is an opportunity to honour and to say thank you to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving their country."
Alex Walmsley
Lady Walmsley's late husband Vice Admiral Sir Robert Walmsley, enjoying his retirement, Rest in Peace.
Lady Walmsley lives in London and is SSAFA’s National Vice Chair. While Alex has not served, her late husband, Sir Robert Walmsley, was a Vice Admiral in the Royal Navy.
Her history is inextricably linked to World War Two, and she says: "As a child of parents who were both refugees from Lithuania and Germany during World War Two, I feel it's essential that we never forget those who have served - and in comparatively recent times, it's people who voluntarily chose to serve - on our behalf to defend this country.
"Many people take their safety, security, and liberty for granted, but peace is a fragile state and needs to be actively preserved. By remembering what happened in past wars - which seem inconceivable to those who have not had to endure it - we honour all those who fought, and especially those who fell or suffered, so that we could survive."
Alex added: "As a civilian, I think it's only right that we recognise and commemorate all those who have served this country on our behalf. It is too easy to forget the sacrifice and service of others to ensure that we can now live the life we want in the place that we want.
"And so, I’m taking part for two reasons: firstly, to represent our charity at this time of national commemoration, and secondly in honour of my late husband Rob."
Gary Morley
Veteran sailor Gary Morley, back in his career days, leading his crew on an onshore march.
Liverpool resident and SSAFA volunteer Mentor Gary served in the Royal Navy for seven years on HMS Rhyl and HMS Hermes, shore bases HMS Excellent and HMS Nelson, and even on the Royal Yacht Britannia.
Gary, who was also a member of the Royal Navy Display Team, served on Rhyl while she was Ascension Island guardship during the Falklands conflict, and in the Armilla patrol - the Royal Navy's permanent presence in the Gulf during the 1980s and 1990s - specifically during the Iran-Iraq War.
On his reasons for taking part in the commemorations at the Cenotaph, Gary commented: "It’s important to take time to remember and honour current and previous Armed Forces personnel who have served their country and for those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country."
Remembrance and grief
SSAFA knows that the time around Remembrance Sunday and November 11 can go beyond poignant to being challenging, especially for those thinking of family and friends who have died.
In an article originally published for SSAFA’s RAF Personal Support and Social Work Service, some strategies for coping with feelings around bereavement are discussed and may, for some, prove helpful.
