On Sunday 8 November, communities across the UK paused to honour the men and women who have served and sacrificed to protect this country. At 11am the nation fell silent for two minutes, and towns and villages gathered at their war memorials for parades, services and wreath laying.

For Andrew Morton, Engineering Manager at Projex Solutions, Remembrance is also one of the most important dates in the Scouting year. As District Lead Volunteer for North Tameside Scout District, Andrew marked the day alongside Scouts and leaders from across the district.

Scouts and Remembrance

From Squirrels aged four to six through to Network members aged 18 to 25, Scouts and leaders from across North Tameside took part in Remembrance services in Ashton, Audenshaw and Droylsden, including at Ashton town centre, Hurst Cross, St James and the Fairfield Moravian Settlement. They carried their group flags, laid a wreath on behalf of the district and stood together for the two-minute silence. The district has thanked everyone who took part for representing their groups so smartly and respectfully.

Scouting and military service share many of the same values: friendship, loyalty, courage, respect and service to others. Remembrance gives young people the chance to reflect on the sacrifices made by members of the Armed Forces, and on the impact of conflict on families and communities. Scouts have their own place in that history too. During the Second World War, Scouts on the home front served as Air Raid Precautions messengers and fire-watchers, and helped the emergency services.

Remembering Jack Millin

This year, Remembrance carried extra meaning for North Tameside Scouts. In September, the district lost Jack Millin at the age of 102. During the Second World War, Jack served as a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner with 12 Squadron, South African Air Force, flying more than 20 missions over northern Italy in the B-26 Marauder, a bomber its crews nicknamed the “widow maker”.

After the war, Jack came home to Ashton and gave decades to Scouting. In 1967 he became District Commissioner for the Ashton-under-Lyne district, then part of Lancashire. When North Tameside District was formed in 1974, bringing together groups from Ashton-under-Lyne, Droylsden and Dukinfield, Jack became its first District Commissioner, serving until 1977. He also chaired Tameside Armed Services Community, visiting local schools to share his experiences with pupils.

On Friday 2 October, Andrew was among the Scouts who formed a guard of honour at Jack’s funeral at St Paul’s Church, Stalybridge. The order of service carried a farewell to Jack in Morse code, a fitting nod to his wartime role.

For the young people who took part on Sunday, Jack’s story is a reminder that Remembrance is about real people from their own towns: those who did not come home, and those, like Jack, who came home and spent the rest of their lives serving their communities.

Supporting our people in the community

At Projex Solutions, we are proud to support colleagues who give their time to their communities. Andrew’s commitment, from helping the district at Tameside Armed Forces Day earlier this year to his role as our Mental Health First Aider, reflects the care for others that sits behind how we work.

Andrew is one of many Projex colleagues who give back. Across the business, we support STEM outreach in local schools, raise money every year on Christmas Jumper Day, and have sponsored local events including the Halifax 10k and the Calderdale Way Relay. Remembrance is a time to reflect on service, duty and looking out for one another, and those values matter to us on site and in the communities where our team live and work.

Everyone at Projex Solutions would like to thank Andrew and the Scouts of North Tameside for honouring Jack and keeping the spirit of Remembrance alive in the community. Our thoughts are with Jack’s family and friends.

We will remember them.