A CHELSEA Pensioner visited the Jersey War Tunnels for the unveiling of an art installation made up of more than 2,000 hand-printed poppies as part of its Remembrance Week celebrations.
Former Royal Signals warrant officer and physical training instructor Michael Gue attended the attraction in his capacity to represent the famed veteran facility, the Royal Hospital Chelsea.
Raising funds for the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal, the former soldier enjoyed a private tour of the tunnels with owner Lance Trevellyan and operations manager Michael Billings, who is also Captain of the Royal Logistic Corps Reserve.
Mr Gue then joined Captain Billings and members of the Jersey Field Squadron to march in the Island’s Remembrance Service at the Cenotaph.
The visit to Jersey was a return to familiar ground, as while a young soldier Mr Gue used to travel to the Island while on leave from the British Army with his roommate, who was a Jerseyman.
His trip coincided with the unveiling of Jersey War Tunnels’ new installation titled, ‘Cascade of Remembrance’, which was created using over 2,000 hand-printed
poppies.
The triangular wreath display aimed to honour servicemen past and present.
The wreaths commemorated Islanders including Len Samson, Michael Ginns MBE, Rob Le Sueur MBE, Bill Reynolds, Harry Fenn, Clive Kemp, Arthur Bell, Richard Wraight, Joseph Miere, Tracy Williams, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton, and Vice-Admiral Sir Jerry Kyd.
Damian Warman, general manager at Jersey War Tunnels, said: “We are extremely proud to be supporting Remembrance Week and wish to thank everyone involved, especially our team.
“This year marks the beginning of a longer-term commitment by Jersey War Tunnels
to embrace Remembrance as a central part of its heritage programme.”
Mr Trevellyan added: “”The Cascade of Remembrance is a deeply meaningful project for us”. Following a visit to the Poppy Factory in Richmond, we were kindly gifted five rolls of poppy material stencils showing where the poppies had been cut.
“The result is both a tribute and a reminder of the sacrifices made.
