By Madeline Sidgwick and Ruby Sharkie, Senior and Associate News Editors
This time 107 years ago David Loyd George, the British prime minister, announced the end of World War One (WW1) – now, we celebrate Remembrance Day and Remembrance Sunday to remember those fallen during the wars and those currently still in the armed forces.
There are many celebrations happening on and around Remembrance Day including The National Service of Remembrance (where members of the Royal family pay tribute alongside Members of the Cabinet, Opposition Party leaders and former Prime Ministers), the Poppy Appeal, parades and many more.
On campus, the Chaplaincy team hosted their annual Remembrance Evensong on the Sunday followed by a Remembrance Day Service on the 11th. The Royal British Legion is also on campus for their Poppy Appeal, selling poppies in support of veterans in multiple spots including the library, volunteering hub and campus cafes.
Royal British Legion: “The truth is, unless you’re currently serving, there is no certain way to wear a poppy.”
But in a poll sent out by the News section, we found that many students have chosen not to buy or wear a poppy this year. Some previous arguments for not wearing a poppy include:
- The symbol: Some argue that the symbol of the poppy has been used excessively to marshall support for British Military invasions.
- “Poppy facisim”: A term used to describe the social pressure to wear a poppy.
- Glorification of war: Many question which actions of war the poppy promotes.
When asking for statements from students regarding their reasons for not wearing a poppy, many declined to provide The Orbital with a statement.
What does the poppy represent?
The poppy was a common flower found on the front line, a typically difficult place to flower; because of this, the poppy symbolised strength and resilience for the soldiers on the front line. Now, the flower symbolises the remembrance of those soldiers and all those that have fallen on the front line.
A lesser known fact is that different coloured poppies symbolise different things: for example, the purple poppy symbolises animals lost in conflict and the white poppy being the Peace Pledge Union, and many more. This inclusivity ensures that people that may not agree with the meaning behind the red poppy can still donate and be proud of other aspects of Remembrance Day.
On Tuesday 11th November 2025, we had the pleasure of attending the Royal Holloway Chapel Remembrance Day Service. The service was busy, and in a short period of time all those who felt the need to pay their respects were able to do so amongst their busy days on campus. If you are on campus this time next year we recommend the service, even if it is not to remember someone specifically.
Image Credit: Madeline Sidgwick