Trip to the European Parliament.

A total of 92 Trafalgar Club and British National Party LIFE members have recently returned from a two night trip to Belgium, where they stayed at the picturesque city of Bruges, paid their respects to our war heroes at the Menin Gate at Ypres, and visited the European Parliament in Brussels with our two British National Party MEPs.

The trip began (very) early on Wednesday, with two luxury coaches picking up guests along the way. A special thank you must go to the Scottish contingent who set off at 10pm the night before in order to get to the pick -point for 3am!

On Thursday morning, Armistice Day, the group met under the (wet) shadow of the magnificent Belfry tower in Bruges and held a two minute silence as the bells fell silence in memory of our fallen heroes from wars past and present.

Thursday afternoon was a chance for the delegation to enjoy the sights, tastes and smells of Bruges, and to sample the local beers. This was followed by a formal dinner for the Trafalgar Club and some LIFE members of the Party, and was attended by Mr Griffin and Mr Brons MEPs, who both gave short speeches before the group rejoined the other trip attendees and boarded the coaches to Ypres.

Arriving in Ypres at the Menin Gate; which is the Memorial to the Missing 55,000 British, Dominion and Empire soldiers who were killed in the Ypres Salient of World War I and whose graves are unknown, but who’s names are carved across the gate, on the evening of the 11th November, the delegation attended the moving nightly 8pm playing of the Last Post, a tradition that has carried on almost without interruption since 1928. Following the Last Post, and a special Armistice Day ceremony, three wreaths were laid, one on behalf of the Trafalgar Club, one on behalf of the Party, and a personal one by Nick Griffin MEP.

On return from Ypres, the group was serenaded with a piano performance from one of the younger members on the trip, Matt Tait. Despite claiming to be a little out of practice Matt impressed everyone that was listening, and gave a very special feeling to the end of an emotional and wet day.

It was an early start on Friday in order to get to the European Parliament building in Brussels in good time for the guided tour and introduction to the inner workings of the Parliament, followed by further explanations from our very own two MEPs of their roles within the Parliament. The trip was rounded off by a very enjoyable group lunch in the Parliament canteen before we boarded the two coaches back to the UK.

A collection was held for assistance in filling Christmas Boxes for our troops and raised just over £500. Mr Griffin stated that he would match this figure, ensuring that the British National Party will be able to send more than £1,000 worth of Christmas gifts to our hero troops who are away from their families at this most poignant time of year.

In order that you can be informed and invited on future similar trips, why not join the British National Party as a Trafalgar Club member on a yearly membership for £249 for the year.