At the Annual General Meeting of Westmorland and Furness Council on Wednesday 7 May, Conservative Councillor for Hawcoat & Newbarns, Niyall Phillips, led the Conservative group's tributes ahead of VE Day. As we celebrate the success of the Allied forces 80 years ago, we must never forget their service and the service of all those who have come since. In tribute, Councillor Phillips said:
"I speak on behalf of all Conservative Councillors today, and I feel it is an honour to be able to do so.
I haven’t served. My parents didn’t serve. My grand parents did. Their parents had no choice whether to serve.
While we celebrate VE day as the jubilant milestone that was in 1945, we should remember for the 384,000 families - they mourned a son, daughter, father, mother, grandfather or grandmother.
Over 5 million men and women served our Armed Forces. What did they think on that day? They survived the war and had the chance home. But it wasn’t over for them - for days, months, years, they suffered the scars of war.
From being in close proximity to their friends, and sometimes family, who gave the ultimate sacrifice. To the shrapnel wounds and insufferable mental hurt that war inflicts on people.
As we stand here today, i’m happy to say i’m glad I wasn’t there 80 days ago. I felt it was wrong to say that originally, but Wing Cdr Ray Brown read a fantastic speech at the war memorial in Barrow on Monday and he said the words, and it struck deep with me.
I’d have been on of those 5 million.
But because of what they gave, I am able to enjoy the freedoms I do today. For that, I am eternally grateful.
In fact, im not just grateful to them. I’m grateful to every Veteran and the Service Personnel for all that they have and continue to do so.
We are in a dangerous world, with uncertainty never greater in my lifetime. I sometimes wonder if we ever really learnt the lessons of war, since 1945 there have only been 2 years in which a Soldier, Sailor or Aircrew have not paid the ultimate sacrifice. We must do better.
So, Thank you to all veterans here today. Thank you to all Veterans in Westmorland and Furness. And Thank you to the generations who gave so much for our today.
As Councillors we can play our part in this. We can celebrate Veterans in our community, we can support our Armed Forces and we can make sure that our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant is the best in the country. I’d like to thank our Armed Forces Board for the amazing work that they have done.
And as the councils nominated person to the RFCA, I was so glad to see that our Lead Officer Linda Jones has been been recognised with a Lord Lieutenants commendation for services to Veterans and Veterans Charities! Well deserved."
