Quaker army doctor lays white poppy wreath

Lois Lodge, from Skipton Meeting, wore her military medals as she laid a wreath of white poppies

A Quaker army doctor laid a white poppy wreath for Remembrance Day in Skipton.

Lois Lodge, from Skipton Meeting (pictured), wore her military medals as she laid the wreath at the Remembrance Day parade and service last Sunday. The wreath was laid on behalf of Skipton Meeting, to represent a desire for peace and to commemorate all victims of war, including civilians.

Lois served as an army doctor in the Royal Army Medical Corps for eighteen years. She wore her military medals after discernment from her Local Meeting. 

‘My later postings were with the United Nations on peacekeeping missions in Cyprus and Yugoslavia,’ she said. ‘This made me think and read, and explore other ways of approaching conflict. In my opinion, having military forces on the ground, while a political process takes place to build long lasting peace, is a good idea. Unfortunately, the political process all too often founders. After leaving the army, I found Quakers, whose attitude to peacemaking, peace-building, and conflict resolution is an inspiration to me. Of course it isn’t easy, or a soft option. But who wants more and more dead service personnel to commemorate? Or, for that matter, more civilian casualties, and more environmental devastation?’ 

Lois was accompanied by Jette Howard, from Skipton Meeting, who organised the distribution of white poppies in the town this year. ‘It has been a particularly good year for us,’ she said. ‘We have had more interest and more conversations with people than ever before. I think it is because, in the current situation, many people can see how damaging war is, and how it only creates more resentment and conflict.’

A white poppy wreath has been laid at the Remembrance Day service since 2019. This was first set in motion when the then-mayor of Skipton Town Council, the late Alan Hickman, raised controversy by asking that one or two white poppies be added to the wreath he was to lay on behalf of Skipton. Alan was a major in the Salvation Army.

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