The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Plans for Remembrance Sunday in Holbeach are set to reach new heights.
Fleet Hargate man Harold Payne says he’s linked up with Holbeach St John’s Flying Club to carry out an airdrop of half a million poppy petals on Sunday, November 13.
The owner of The Anglia Motel held what he calls ‘The People’s Parade’ after Holbeach Parish Council held just a static event last year after it said it failed to get enough trained volunteers to marshal the parade.
And he’s putting on his own event again this year.
As well as marching from the community centre and the air drop, Harold has a specially adapted FH70 gun which was originally on the German Russian border and could fire up to 28 miles.
Harold and his team of helpers adapted the gun to fire using a propane gas bird scarer.
He hopes to fire yet more biodegradable poppy petals from that at the event.
“It’s going to be a fantastic day,” Harold said. “I wanted to do something a bit different.
“There’s set to be four or five aeroplanes from Holbeach St John’s Flying Club and they’re going to be dropping them over the attendees.
“It’s going to look absolutely amazing.
“I’m hoping it will become a regular thing.”
Harold plans for those taking part in the parade to meet from around 9am ahead of a procession to Holbeach War Memorial at 10.30am for a 11am service.
The parade will then head to the Anglia Motel where the poppy drop is scheduled for around 1.30pm.
Harold has raise thousands for veterans to visit World War battlefields and is currently looking to raise £250,000 for a new war memorial at the Anglia Motel, which he says will be his last fundraising effort.
“I’m privileged to have done so much,” he said. “I’ve been lucky to go these places and remember all the people from the Commonwealth who didn’t come back from conflicts.
“It’s important to keep the traditions in this country.
“America lost 6,000 in the war, but Lincolnshire alone lost 3,000.”
