We will grieve not, rather find strength in what remains behind.

It was our Silver Wedding Anniversary so we opened our cards and prezzies then went downstairs for breakfast. Before heading out for the day we took photos of us posing on the balcony with the sea in the background. We had intended to get a professional photographer to take some photos of the occasion but none of photographers we approached replied to our messages.

I opened up my tripod to find that it was no longer fit for purpose. When I extended the legs, the clips broke off one by one. It was a good job I had my sturdy GorillaPod with me. It easily clung to one of the hotel chairs at just the right angle to get some nice photographs.

After the photo opportunity we walked to the Royal Pavilion where we were able to get discounted tickets due to our English Heritage membership. On the outside, the Pavilion is Indian in style whereas the inside has a Chinese influence. The inside is even more ostentatious and extravagant than the outside.

When we had finished our tour of the Pavilion it was time for lunch which we had in the Pavilion Gardens Café. I chose an egg and tomato sandwich which I prefer over the more usual egg mayonnaise. After I had finished a seagull attempted a duck and dive from behind me with his eye on a crust that remained on the plate. He was unsuccessful in his attempt.

Next, we visited the Brighton Museum and Art Gallery. It is currently housing an exhibition ‘Out of the Ordinary’ displaying the work of the photojournalist Roger Bamber who was from Brighton. The exhibition was well worth the entry fee alone, his photography is outstanding.

We returned to the hotel where Mr C ordered a bottle of Prosecco to enjoy in our room whilst we relaxed before dinner. We had eventually come up with a Plan B dining option; the nearby Coal Shed.

The food and service were excellent, although I felt a little overdressed for the surroundings. During our meal we had been trying to place the accent of the waiter who served us. I had him as being from Australia or perhaps New Zealand but it turned out that he is from South Africa.

Rather than seek out another potentially dodgy pub we returned to the hotel and enjoyed a post-dinner wine in the relative calm of the hotel bar.

After completing my Queen Elizabeth II memorial walking challenge; 96k (60 miles) by virtually walking from Sonning Common to London, I retraced my steps on the virtual route from London back to Windsor (just under 29 miles). I concluded my challenge with a ‘real’ walk along the 2.64 miles ‘Long Walk’ from the Windsor Castle Cambridge gate entrance to the Copper Horse statue of King George III.

We enjoyed the views and seeing the deer herd as we got closer to the large statue of King George III that is at the far end of the walk. I enjoyed the sense of achievement and reflected on Queen Elizabeth II as I took in the view from the elevated location before walking the pathway back to Windsor.

My medal didn’t arrive in time for it to be presented at the end of The LongWalk . When it arrived I had it presented in one of my favourite local places, Hodnet Hall Gardens which also has lovely tree lined walks.

All the proceeds of medal purchases were equally donated between selected Queen’s Animal Charities. I have made additional donations to two of them; RSPB and the Dogs Trust. I have also made a donation to The Queens Green Canopy which was an initiative to plant trees to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. The initiative has now been extended so that trees can be planted in memoriam to honour Her Majesty.

I am taking part in this virtual challenge to walk 96K (60 miles) in memory of Queen Elizabeth II. All profits from taking part in this challenge will be donated the many animal charities that The Queen supported.

I aim to complete the challenge before the end of September and when I have done so I will make a personal donation to one or more of those charities.

• You can find the challenge here.

In early 2020 an unexpected virus arrived affecting our lives, causing us to stay at home for a while to stop the virus spreading and getting out of control. During this time Captain Tom Moore inspired many people with his uplifting spirit of life and walks round his garden to raise money for the NHS.

It was an honour to walk in memory of him on the day of his funeral and pledge my miles as a donation to his Charity Foundation. I was joining others from the #walk1000miles community walking their own miles to celebrate his life.

Mr C accompanied me for what turned out to be a 5 mile walk so my donation will be doubled to £20.

This exhibit is a fiberglass model used to create the bronze statue that now stands in Whitehall Place, London. The London statue was unveiled by the Royal Tank Regiment’’s Colonel in Chief, Her Majesty the Queen, on the 13th of June 2000.

The memorial depicts a Comet Tank Crew and is a permanent tribute to those who have served in the Royal Tank Regiment and its antecedents.*

The bronze figures shown here represent (from left) the Hull Machine Gunner holding a BSA machine gun, Turret Gunner, Commander with binoculars, Loader/Radio Operator and Driver of a Comet Tank.

Comets entered service in 1945, as a 32 ton Cruiser Tank armed with a 77mm gun. They served with the 11th Armoured Division for the last few months of the war in Europe.*

Take these men as your example.
Like them remember
That prosperity can only be for the free,
Who alone have the courage to defend it.

Pericles 490 – 429 B.C.

*from an information board next to the statue

An inscription at the bottom says : In honour and memory of the members of 2,3,8 and 100 Groups who served in the Ely district during the second world war, 1939 to 1945. The outer panels show aircrew and airman figures, between them are Archangel Michael and St. George. Below these are the badges of the four groups. At the bottom of the window there are scenes of aircraft in flight, including one of a bomber going over Ely Cathedral. The window is in the North Choir Aisle. It was designed by E.Liddall Armitage and unveiled on Remembrance Sunday, 1955 Link .

Matthew 10:16

John 15:13 (KJV)