A local AM has taken part in a race against the clock to commemorate the centenary of the Battle of Mametz Wood.
Last week, Wednesday 2nd November, Russell George, Assembly Member for Montgomeryshire, jumped on the exercise bike (picture attached) and joined The Royal British Legion, veterans and other Assembly Members for the 8 hour bike ride which saw AMs and MPs cycling as far as they could in 5 minutes in an effort to collectively cycle the distance from Westminster to the Somme, to mark the centenary of the Battle of the Somme.
On Sunday (13th November), Mr George will also mark Remembrance Day by attending the Remembrance Sunday service in Newtown after attending the Welshpool Remembrance Parade last year.
Mr. George, said:
“I would like to thank the Royal British Legion in Wales for arranging the first ever Poppy Ride in Wales. I am pleased to have been able to mark the Battle of Mametz Wood and raise awareness of those who continue to require the Legion's support today.
“However, it’s not enough to solely rely on organisations like the Royal British Legion to raise money and campaign for the 385,000 members of the current and former service community currently living in Wales.
“I believe it’s time for us to reflect as a society on the way we treat armed forces veterans.
“We are one hundred years on from the Battle of the Somme and the commemorations this year have been a poignant reminder of the need to protect these heroes, and to ensure that those who have served in the armed forces, and their families, are treated with fairness and respect.
“I encourage the Welsh Government to consider the suggestion to create an Armed Forces and Veterans Commissioner for Wales, which would be of immense benefit to the many important projects carried out on behalf of veterans, their families and the wider armed forces community.”