From his days in National Service in the 1950s to organising memorials for the three Tamworth soldiers who died in Iraq, Ray Jennings has been a prominent member of Royal British Legion and South Staffordshire branch of the Royal Signals Association for years.
The 71-year-old, married father of one, from Mile Oak, was in the Royal Corps of Signals regiment between 1955 and 1957 stationed at various locations throughout the UK. He said: "It was all enjoyable but I wasn't the type to go and sign up again. I enjoy meeting other people and it was another way of meeting people from all over the country."
But while he left the regiment to pursue a career in the Post Office he signed up to the Royal British Legion and still volunteers to help sell poppies for the Poppy Appeal every October and November.
He was also the organiser behind the memorial concert in Tamworth and the memorial bench set up in Whittington Barracks dedicated to Second Lieutenant Richard Shearer, aged 26, from Nuneaton, and Private Leon Spicer, 26, and Private Phillip Hewett,21, both from Tamworth who died in Iraq in July 2005.
As an ex-Signal and a current member of the Royal Signals Association it is apt that he was near the front of the crowd surrounding the new memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum as Princess Anne unveiled it yesterday.
He said; "I think it's a lovely memorial. When you look at it there's far more to it than many other memorials I've seen and we all recognise the cap badge and who it is - there's not another Jimmy."
It was a proud day for firefighters and the Royal Corps of Signals, as memorials to honour their fallen comrades and their service were unveiled by royalty at the National Memorial Arboretum near Lichfield. Princess Anne attended dedication ceremonies of both memorials and a tribute to the Memorial Masons, attended by thousands yesterday.
Hundreds of serving and former members of the Royal Corps of Signals regiment made the journey to the memorial, set in a clearing surrounded by trees and in the form of a Signals' cap badge representing Mercury, the messenger to the gods, but nicknamed "Jimmy" by the corps.
Standards
Royal Singnals Association branches numbering 30 brought standards from as far afield as Glasgow and stood to attention behind the statue during the service.
Members of the South Staffordshire branch were present along with their standard carried by their treasurer, Andy Wigley. Mr Wigley, aged 40, of Tamworth, served in the regiment in Northern Ireland and the first Gulf War. He said: "This is before out commander and chief and it is something dedicated for the lads out there to say we've not forgotten you. It's a great honour to be here."
Military personnel came to pay tribute, including members from 22 Signals based at Beacon Barracks, MoD Stafford. Major Karl Jeeves has seen active duty in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia and Kosovo and has served for 12 years. He said: "The memorial represents the history of the corps and the people who have come before us and made the ultimate sacrifice for King and Queen and country. "It's importatnt to remember those people and what the cap badge stands for."
Music including Edward Elgar's stirring Nimrod was played by the Band of the Royal Corps of Signals led by their musical director, Captain Guy Booth.
Firefighters
Firefighters who put their lives on the line for others daily were honoured with their memorial set in an enclosed garden. Active, retired firefighters and their relatives surrounded the enclosure as Princess Anne arrived by car along a road lined with various fire service standards.
The United Kingdom Firefighters' Memorial Trust organised the event with a march and music by a combined fire service which included musicians from Strathclyde, Devon and Somerset and West Midlands Fire Service bands under the direction of Pat Ryan and Frum Major Ian Washburn. With the badge of the National Fire Service sculpted onto it, the memorial underlines the eight qualities required of a firefighter represented by the eight points of the star on the badge - tact, gallantry, dexterity, observation, perseverence, loyalty, explicitness and sympathy.
Retired friefighters, Roger Carr, 67, Gareth Bignall, 70 and Robert Corelly travelled a 260-mile round trip from Caerphilly, South Wales, to see the unveiling. Mr Carr, who did 25 years in the service, said : "I think it's a filling tribute to all those who have gone on before us. Having been in horrible, sticky situations myself it was a case of I made it but they didn't.
