| Main Performers | The Spice Girls (Victoria Beckham, Geri Halliwell, Melanie Brown, Melanie Chisholm, Emma Bunton)
Noel Rogers (Chairman, RBL),
Dame Vera Lynn - speakers |
| Set List | Recitation - 'The Fallen', Laurence Binyon (The Spice Girls) |
| Performance Notes | At a press conference / photo opportunity held on the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Steps outside the Royal Albert Hall the Spice Girls, dressed in black, launched the 1997 Remembrance Day poppy appeal. The Legion hoped the Spice Girls would encourage more young people to buy a poppy.
Sharing a podium with armed forces' sweetheart Dame Vera Lynn, the five pop stars read a joint appeal to remember those who died at war. Ginger Spice, Geri Haliwell, began: "War affects everyone especially the young like in the Falklands and Bosnia today so as the next generation this is our future so it's our responsibility to get involved." Sporty Mel Chisholm continued: "Millions of people died so that we could be free." Scary Mel Brown said: "And it's time to remember and say thanks because many people paid a very high price for freedom and we must never forget them." Posh Victoria Adams added: "So please remember to buy your poppies." And Baby Emma Bunting wrapped it up: "And we need you all to participate in the two-minute silence on the 11th hour of the 11th of November, please remember and say thank you."
They then joined together and read the poem "The Fallen" by Lawrence Binyan. Photographers stopped taking pictures as they read: "They shall not grow old as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them."
A Legion official said the involvement of the Spice Girls represent a change of tack for the charity. "We are specifically targeting young people this year. We would like to see many, many more young people wearing poppies. We know they support what we do." |