Thousands to attend Armistice Day national service in Staffordshire

This Monday 11 November a service will be held on the Armed Forces Memorial at Staffordshire's National Memorial Arboretum.

Commencing at around 10am, thousands of veterans and their families will attend a ticketed service on the Armed Forces Memorial with a live video feed for all visitors on a big screen in Heroes' Square.

A two-minute silence will be observed at 11am. In addition to an Act of Remembrance, the service will feature performances by Black Voices, British Army Band Catterick, Carly Paoli, and participants in the Talent in the Ranks programme.

We spoke to Tony Matthews who has volunteered at the National Memorial Arboretum for nearly 20 years and was recently made an MBE in the Kings Honours.

Tony served in the British Army for 23 years.

"Every time I go into the Arboretum as a volunteer, I always catch a name I know the corner of my eye. There's 19 people that I knew on the wall that I served with. I just count myself lucky at times that I came out intact in body and soul, and mind. I do have a moment sometimes thinking what could have been.

"You never lose the fact you were together in tough times and good times. Things like in Northern Ireland at the time, and we lost people. Today, I'll just be thinking about the guys I know on the walls."

Rob Shenton from Biddulph in Staffordshire spent 25 years in the forces and served in places like Bosnia and Afghanistan.

Since then he's overcome significant mental health challenges - and now helps to run a Suicide Prevention Programme for others.

"I'm glad that remembrance happens, but whilst this is one day that we set aside to remember those who have served and suffered." he said,

"For many those battles are with us long after the wars are over, and we have to remember that every day.

"Mixed emotions. Sometimes remembrance brings a tear to my eye, and sometimes a smile when I think of the good times we had together.

"I think about three things during the silence. I think about those that have served and lost their lives. Those who have sadly taken their lives from the trauma. And I think about those still suffering today."

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