Our main Remembrance Service in Sofia was held in the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in the Sofia Central Cemetery on Sunday 9th November 2008.  As has become tradition in Sofia over the past years, we also took part in the German and French Remembrance Services which followed on from our own Service.

Padre Martin Jacques, who kindly joined us from Bucharest, led the British Service.  Wreaths were laid by HMA, Mr Steve Williams, by the Defence Attaché, Colonel Jon Mulroy, by representatives of the Commonwealth Embassies of Australia, South Africa and India, and by representatives from the Embassies of The Republic of Ireland, Germany, France, USA, Italy, Greece, Serbia, Romania and Hungary.  Wreaths were also laid on behalf of the Bulgarian Defence Minister, the Chief of the Bulgarian General Staff and the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

The weather was very kind to us, and we enjoyed a tremendous turn-out.  Many thanks to Warrant Officer Class 2 John Storrie, Royal Marines, for pulling the whole event together, and to the French Defence Attaché, Colonel Vladimir Mikoulinsky, for co-ordinating the day, and for laying on a splendid Reception in the French Residence once the Services were complete.  And, of course, many thanks to all of those who joined us to remember our fallen colleagues.

On Wednesday 12th November, we held a slightly more low-key Remembrance at the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in the Central Cemetery in the City of Plovdiv.  The Defence Section again took the lead, and we were delighted that HMA and his wife, Fiona, were able to join us.  Our Overseas Security Manager, John Berry, also took the opportunity to join us in our short, informal Service as we remembered those British soldiers who had died in the region towards the end of the First World War.  Wreaths were laid by HMA, by the Defence Attaché and by Colonel Lyubov of the Bulgarian Airforce, who kindly represented the Commander of Plovdiv Military Garrison.

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