On a crisp November morning, as I travelled from North London to Euston with a wreath of white poppies in my arms, I noticed two people sitting opposite me. They too were wearing white poppies. Curious and hopeful, I leaned forward and asked, “Are you going to Tavistock Square?” They smiled and nodded. In that brief exchange, the connection was made. We were strangers, but we were united by a shared commitment to peace and remembrance.
Later, standing in Tavistock Square, surrounded by familiar faces and fellow advocates for nonviolence, I reflected on that small moment on the train. A long-standing friend of Conscience approached me and shared how he had seen people wearing white poppies on a morning television show earlier that day, side by side with red ones. We both marvelled at the growing recognition of the white poppy as a powerful symbol of peace - an inclusive emblem that remembers all victims of war, civilian and military alike, without glorifying conflict.
The Alternative Remembrance Ceremony, held in front of the memorial stone for conscientious objectors, has become a vital annual tradition for many. Organised by the Peace Pledge Union (PPU), the event brings together individuals and organisations who share a vision of a world where peace is prioritised over militarism. For decades, Conscience has been proud to lay its wreath of white poppies here, reaffirming our commitment to a future free from the devastation of war.
As the ceremony began, we observed two minutes of silence. In that profound stillness, I thought of the countless lives lost to war - soldiers, civilians, and those who suffered in silence as conscientious objectors. The wreaths laid that day bore a quiet yet potent message: remembrance must never serve as justification for future violence. It must be a call to action for peace.
The morning was hosted by Kate Smurthwaite, a feminist activist, comedian, and tireless advocate for justice. Her warmth set the tone for the powerful speeches that followed. Roger McKenzie, Vice-President of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), reminded us of the intersections between peace, trade unionism, and the fight against racism. Nadine Aranki (pictured on the left) a Palestinian researcher, shared moving insights from her work co-curating The Many Lives of Gaza exhibition, a stark reminder of the enduring impact of conflict.
Jon Nott (pictured left) from the Campaign Against Arms Trade, spoke with clarity and conviction about the urgent need to dismantle the global arms trade, while Marwan Darweish, a British-Palestinian scholar, brought an academic yet deeply personal perspective on the transformative power of peacebuilding.
As the ceremony concluded, I looked around and felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude. Despite the cold and the challenges of our world, people showed up. People cared. The white poppy, once marginalised, is increasingly being recognised for what it truly is: a beacon of hope, a symbol of inclusivity, and a reminder that remembrance must also serve the living.
Every year, we gather at Tavistock Square not just to honour the past, but to commit to a more peaceful future. As I laid our wreath alongside others, I thought of the journeys - both literal and symbolic - that brought us here. For me, it started on a train with two strangers wearing white poppies. For others, it might have started in a conversation, a book, or a quiet moment of reflection.
The important thing is that we arrived, together, to remember and to act.
Let us carry the message of the white poppy with us - not just on this day, but every day. May it inspire us to work tirelessly for a world where no one has to suffer the horrors of war again.
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