Remembrance Day and a short Intermediate pace loop coincided today so that the Club could be represented at the city’s War Memorial for the Service of Remembrance. Accordingly a group set out on what became a rather brisk pace through Hempsted and Elmore, perhaps the downside of having an escapee from the Tempo ride, or perhaps the ride leader just having to maintain cadence on his fixie. Either way, despite claims of a rubbing rear brake, we were well ahead of schedule by the time we reached Whitminster. Here we separated, with one rider following the posted route (not, of course, the ride leader, who has his reputation to maintain) while everyone else took a tour of Great Oldbury to emerge in Little Australia.
The new Standish multi user path offered a convenient spot for mechanical adjustment, deemed necessary now that a rising headwind was adding to the drag of the rubbing brake. As we began our northward journey it was obvious that this had been completely unnecessary, for the wind was at our backs and was giving wings to the previously troubled rider who was making the rest of us work to keep him in sight. It all worked out in the end, for we regrouped and picked up our companion at the Motorway bridge then headed into town via Matson, to arrive at a quarter to eleven.
We joined a good sized crowd in time to see the Mayor and his entourage arrive to take up their places by the War Memorial for the service and the laying of wreaths. That rising wind was a cold one so, after the Last Post was blown, we grew chilled as we observed two minutes silence. The service closed with an address by the Cathedral’s Dean, a reading by the Mayor, the Lord’s Prayer, National Anthem, and a Blessing.
The order of service may be viewed here.
MT