White poppy plan to promote peace

The priest-in-charge of Newark plans to wear a white poppy throughout the year — apart from on Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday.

On those days the Rev David Pickersgill will wear the traditional red poppy.

Mr Pickersgill has agreed his course of action with the chairman of the Newark branch of the Royal British Legion.

White poppies are produced by the Peace Pledge Union and have been sold since the 1930s.

The organisation says the poppies remember all those lost in war, not only members of the Armed Forces, represent a commitment to peace, and challenge attempts to glamourise or celebrate war.

Mr Pickersgill will start wearing a white poppy next week.

"We cannot take peace for granted."

He said there was a responsibility to work for peace every day of the year and there were things everyone could do.

“We cannot take peace for granted. We need to keep working at it all year round,” he said.

“For this reason I intend to wear a white poppy on my lapel all the other days of the year.”

Mr Pickersgill said he supported the Royal British Legion and the vital work it did.

“It is very important that this continues,” he said. “However, I do think that if we are to honour the memory of those who have died, it is important to look towards the future and ensure that we are very active in trying to ensure that nobody dies in war again.”

Mr Pickersgill said he did not want to show disrespect to those who had fought and served and lost their lives in previous wars.

“If anyone sees me wearing a white poppy and wants to talk to me about it I would be glad to chat to them,” he said.

His grandfather, Mr Deryck Palmer, was from a Quaker background and was a conscientious objector during the second world war.

When he became eligible for call-up he asked for exemption from combatant duties but was willing to serve in the Army.

His case was heard by a tribunal and he was drafted into the non-combatant corps.

Mr Palmer was sent to Scotland where German prisoners were housed and remained there throughout his Army service.

“It cannot have been easy to do something unpopular in his day,” said Mr Pickersgill.

“But I feel proud of him for listening to his conscience and doing what he thought was right before God.”

"It is so important to remember those who have died."

Mr Pickersgill had considered wearing a red and a white poppy for the Remembrance service in Newark Parish Church a week on Sunday.

But after a meeting with the chairman of Newark Royal British Legion, Mr John Rush, he decided to wear just the red poppy.

“It is so important to remember those who have died and to support all those who have loved them and miss them,” said Mr Pickersgill.

“If I were to wear a white poppy on Remembrance Day people might think that I did not think that, therefore I will only be wearing a red poppy.”

Mr Rush, a former wing commander in the RAF, discussed the wearing of a white poppy with Mr Pickersgill in a 90-minute meeting on Monday.

“We agreed together it would be wholly inappropriate for a white poppy to be worn on Remembrance Sunday,” said Mr Rush.

“I believe this to be the right decision at this time after giving it faithful and due consideration.”

Mr Rush said he had spoken with many people, from both military and non-military backgrounds, and he believed the decision reached would be widely accepted.

He said he understood that at times wearing a white poppy might be appropriate to represent a more peaceful world.

“In that situation I believe anyone could wear a white poppy representing this quest for peace on the other days of the year but never at one of our Remembrance services,” he said.

A spokesman for the Southwell and Notttingham Diocese said: “This is David’s personal decision, his way of expressing his commitment to reconciliation and peace.

“The church fully recognises the significance of Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday and clergy around the country will be taking part in services to remember those who have died or been injured while serving their country in the Armed Forces.

“We are also very thankful for the work of the Royal British Legion.

“The Bishop of Southwell, the Rt Rev Paul Williams, will be wearing a red poppy throughout the season of Remembrance and taking a full part in the Remembrance Day service at the cenotaph in Nottingham.”