REMEBERANCE SUNDAY

Red Lion Often cited as the most popular pub name in the UK, the most famous Red Lion of them all is probably this one in Westminster. This isn't for its attractive turn-of-the-century features, etched glass or surfeit of mahogany, but because its the nearest pub to Downing Street. So often is it frequented by MPs and various politicos that its televisions show the BBC Parliament channel, instead of the usual sport. Apparently, it even rings a division bell to alert the more right honourable customers of an upcoming vote. In usual media attention-grabbing style, it was also the place where Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell happily announced an end to UK's antiquated licensing laws (even if ironically the Red Lion was refused a late licence itself). The pub's small size and quantity of besuited regulars means its often very busy, even if a cellar bar and upstairs dining room help alleviate the pressure. Still, its worth a look out of peak times and you never know when some tidbit of political gossip might be overheard. clientele: Civil servants, politicos, a few tourists, the odd MP or two (no pun intended)  I don't have the same memeroies as others to about this speacial day. However I did work at the above for five years and the Red Lion is a stones throw away from the Cenotaph. The preparations were made well in advance all the staff had to be security checked and we were issied the with photo name tags, we also had to be back in the pub by midnight as Parliament Street was closed of for the night and the live out staff had to be in by 9am because the crowds would be huge even at that hour. On the actual day early in the morning 6.30 we would have the sniffer dogs in to check the building then policemen would be assigned to each to each door until after the Veterans Parade. We always watched the Parade from the Restaurant window and we had a perfect view and of course obseved the 2 minute silence. We had regular bookings every year for different units who came together for this as one of their reunions, what a great bunch they were, they would have lunch and reminise about their times during WW2 and those who could'nt make it son grandchildren would come in their place even one or two of the wives. In our Cellar bar we had the "PARAS" oh what a boistrous bunch they were young and old, you had to watch the "old boys" as they would always try and sneak a kiss or pinch you on the bum..LOL but all done in good fun, there was a lady who every year would wear her Nylons and flash her "French Knickers" we'd also have the music on to match there era so much fum and reve;ry but they always remembered Friends Family Commrades who did'nt come home. In our main bar it was just a free for all so many faces we recognised from previous years, all the men so smart wearing their medals with such pride telling their different stories and again remembering those lost. What great Sundays those were, and the brave men and women who came every and also year to remember and also to celebrate those who came home.