Wife just going to work, Central Management have sent an email stating under no circumstances should Officers wear face masks when dealing with the public! Despicable. Apparently Union have said that wear if you want and they would fight any disciplinary action to the very top. Personally think Home Secretary should intervene but of course, she may not know.

I don't necessarily agree with your take on things usually but your views are well put. However, in this instance, what a load of old tosh.

You may have an issue with the media and how they report it, but allow those who lived through it a bit of respect. They don't view it through rose tinted specs, they know what the reality was like. I never met my uncle because he died in Italy. I was going to visit his grave for the first time this year, but that's been put on hold. I was going to go because I've now lost my Dad, my Mum, my Auntie's and Uncles, all of them, who were able to tell me as a kid and as an adult about what it was like to live through the War. They lived in London and suffered bombings on their areas the likes of which none of us can comprehend. They all did their bit but asked for no thanks afterwards. To a man and woman, they were very humble about what occurred. And none of them are here now to visit their brother's grave.

Another uncle of mine and my other half's Grandad were prisoners of war, both in the Far East. They returned mentally scarred and never, ever wanted to talk about what they endured, each suffering from nightmares until the days they died.

None of them are here any longer, so I actually appreciate days like yesterday to look back, reflect, and yes, give thanks to them for whatever parts they played in keeping us from becoming German. I thank my lucky stars that I'm of a generation that never had to do National Service, as I'd have hated my selfish little existence to be disrupted. And I pray that my own children never have to do it either, although my nephew voluntarily joined up and has already seen stuff that I never have, and never want to. None of my friends have been blown up standing next to me. His best friend was.

So don't do days like yesterday down. What I do agree with you about is about doing our own thing to make the future better. I do so in whatever small way I can, and I trust you do the same. And neither of us ask for any thanks for doing so, I assume. So concentrate on the future by all means, but don't deny us the right to remember the past and those who played their part in it.

Key phrase "clutching at straws"

Key phrase "clutching at straws"

Great post. I concur 100% with your sentiments. Yesterday brought more than a few tears to my eyes.

My own Dad served in the navy and was on the Prince of Wales when it was sunk by the Japanese. He lost many friends that day and my Mum didn't know he had survived until 6 weeks later. We can only imagine what that must have been like but I probably owe my life to his homecoming! He rarely spoke of those days but I have done the research and read the book he contributed to and it was very, very tough.

Remembering what they did is an honour for me.

Pesky lefty unions! Pritti may not know, but then again she may, and not give a fcuk!