Rayleigh and Wickford MP and Former Armed Forces Minister, Mark Francois, joined his Parliamentary colleague Stephen Metcalfe MP and Mrs Jennifer Tolhurst, the Lord Lieutenant of Essex to attend a special veterans breakfast at the Campanile Hotel, Basildon in the run up to Remembrance Sunday.
The group of veterans from in and around the Basildon area meet regularly for breakfast once a month. In view of the forthcoming commemoration of a hundred years of the Armistice that ended World War One, the veterans kindly invited local MPs and the Lord Lieutenant to a special commemorative meal.
Mark and Stephen were delighted to join the veterans and to talk about their experiences of their life in the Armed Forces, including one veteran who served at D-Day. The Lord Lieutenant addressed those present and mentioned her own father’s service in World War Two.
Commenting on the special breakfast, Mark Francois said:
“It was a privilege to join those who have served their country at such a special breakfast to mark the centenary of the Armistice. It was a hearty meal and it was great to see all the vets in such great spirits. It was also a pleasure to meet the Lord Lieutenant properly for the first time and it is heartening to know she comes from a family of strong military traditions. We should never forget the sacrifices that were made so that we can live in a free country and the last people on earth who would do that are those who have served.”