Disgust at BNP’s ‘insulting’ race message on wreath

Hugo Daniel | Friday, 17 November 2006 Source: Croydon Advertiser

WAR veterans, churchgoers and councillors have told of their disgust at an "offensive" wreath left by the BNP at an Addington war memorial.

On Sunday, British National Party members laid poppies after a Remembrance service at St Mary's Church in Addington Village Road.

The message on the wreath read: "To those who fell for our race and nation to keep Britain British we will never forget them. Croydon BNP."

Timothy Reynolds, 47, says he and others in the 40 or so crowd at the service felt intimidated by their presence.

"The congregation came out of the church after the mass to lay wreaths at the war memorial,"he said.

"The children put down poppies and crosses and then this big muscular fellow with a long overcoat came up and put a wreath down. There were other intimidating people in overcoats among the congregation.

"A lot of the people were shocked and upset, including myself.I did not think it was appropriate for a political party to put the wreath there with this message."

Michael Lyons, 73, chairman of the New Addington branch of the Royal British Legion and veteran of the Suez conflict in 1956, described the message as inflammatory and disgusting.

He added: "They should lay a wreath by all means. But it should simply say: 'For all those who fell'. They should know everyone was fighting for everyone's freedom, regardless of who they are.

"Nobody in their right mind thinks the war was fought to keep Britain British. It's missing the point massively."

New Addington and Fieldway's four councillors said the BNP had sunk to a new low.

Cllr Brenda Kirby said: "Anybody who wants to commemorate those who died has the right, but you can't pick out a section of them.

"Thinking our fathers and grandfathers died only to keep Britain white is the most insulting and obscene thing.

"My dad did not get captured in Calais and force-marched to Poland to keep Britain white. He was fighting for his country and freedom for the world. It was a world war."

But BNP press officer Dr Phil Edwards said anyone who thinks the wreath was offensive "wants Britain to be invaded". He said:"Most people would think it's insane to say it's a bad thing to keep Britain British.

"Our soldiers went to war to stop our country being invaded by foreigners,like today we are trying to stop people from Third World countries coming here.

"The message does not mention the race of people fighting,but it is not a bad thing to want to keep Britain white.

"You can interpret the message however you like.I reject that it is insulting or offensive and I think anyone who thinks it is is being disingenuous."

Wendy Robins,director of communications for Southwark Diocese,said at the time the wreath was laid no one was aware who the BNP members were.She added that the parish wanted to dissociate itself from the BNP's views.