Remembering

My thoughts this week are for all those involved in several tragic incidents across the country, those who have lost their lives, those that are left behind and those who attend as part of their job to protect and save us.
As part of a service which provides this care I feel incredibly proud of those who I work with, across all of the responding agencies and not to be forgotten the voluntary groups who provide hours of support both during an incident and after it.
The time after an incident can be the most difficult to deal with both for the victims , their families and the bereaved. It can be months years , if ever that people begin to come to terms with the tragic events they have been exposed to.
You may have noticed that I didn't include the responders in that group; "Its our job" , "I'm OK" and similar are often heard. This is not the case and we are just as likely to affected by an incident as anyone else Our green superman or whatever colour uniform you wear does not make us invincible!
All agencies have in place a support network to enable staff to speak to someone if they have been affected by a incident or things that may have built up over a period of time.
It is not weak, it is not failure, it is not brave to bottle things up. In fact it is the complete opposite to recognise that you need to talk to someone and ask for help.
Using the old British Telecom line again "It's good to talk"
Today is also Remembrance Sunday and will see those who have fallen in conflicts across the ages and the world remembered for their sacrifice. Included in this will be all those from the emergency services who lost their lives while doing their job and protecting us.

Please take a moment to remember all those who have given their lives to protect us whether during conflict or on home soil.

For The Fallen

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill: Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres.
There is music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

They mingle not with laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables of home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond England's foam.

But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the Night;

As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain,
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.

Laurence Robert Binyon, 1869-1943

Thank you have a good week and stay safe.