POPPY wreaths will be placed on a train departing Reading station bound for Paddington to honour Remembrance Day today.

The event will see Richard Bennett chair of the Trooper Potts VC Memorial Trust place the Lord- Lieutenant of Berkshire’s wreath on Great Western Railway's (GWR) 10:26 train from Reading bound for Paddington.

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Reading East MP Matt Rodda and a representative from the Arborfield Garrison will also lay a wreath.

The special Poppies to Paddington operation will involve nine train services and more than 60 stations covering the length and breadth of the Great Western network.

With many Remembrance events in the capital and around the region suspended because of the pandemic, GWR and The Veterans Charity have been coordinating with organisations including the Royal British Legion and The Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) to place wreaths on board early-morning services heading to the capital today (November 11).

More than 100 wreaths are expected to be taken to London.

On arrival at Paddington these will be placed at the station’s iconic war memorial, on Platform 1, in time for the Remembrance Day service at 11am.

Poppies to Paddington is GWR’s way of helping communities to ensure our fallen heroes are remembered despite the restrictions in place around Covid-19.

The arrival of the Poppies and the Remembrance service will be broadcast live on GWR’s Facebook page and people are encouraged to #RememberFromHome.

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GWR’s Head of Communications Dan Panes said: “We all know how much change the pandemic has brought to everyone’s lives but we are determined Remembrance Day should be marked in the best way possible.

“Poppies to Paddington allows all those organisations who would usually be present for the Remembrance services at London Paddington and around the region to pay tribute to the fallen by laying a wreath.

"We are proud to be able to help in this way.”

Iain Henderson, Trustee of The Veterans Charity, added: “Thanks to GWR and our friends in HM Armed Forces, the Emergency Services and numerous other groups and charities who support veterans, Poppies to Paddington will mean that people from across the region can still pay respects and remember those who fought and remember those who died in conflicts from World War One to Afghanistan.

"All from the safety of their home.”