When Anne Middleton’s husband joined the Army in 2013 to become a Padre, she had a career change.
Like all Army wives, she realised that she would need a career that would travel with her husband’s work. So, she became an author and storyteller! With a background in theatre and therapy, including a lot of script writing and theatre in education, she realised that these skills and experience naturally transferred into writing stories and being a storyteller.
Since becoming a part of the Army community, Anne has found the symbol of the poppy to be even more poignant. Having a young child at the time, she also became aware of the need to be able to explain why we wear poppies each year, in a child-friendly and non-frightening way. Hence, she wrote her short story, ‘Piggy and Woof and the Poppy’ for Remembrance Day 2014.
Having produced a booklet including her story, in partnership with the Royal British Legion in Wiltshire, Anne then teamed up with Carole Arnold, of Royal British Legion Devon and Heather Ogburn, ofMilitary Kids Club Heroes in Plymouth, to re-create the booklet. This time, she worked with Goosewell Academy, Plymstock, to produce the beautiful illustrations of Piggy and Woof on the Hoe. Goosewell Academy has a large number of Service children; with an excellent understanding of the particular needs and issues that Service families face, Goosewell promotes a culture of kindness and support.
10,000 booklets have been printed for all the Infant schools in the Plymouth area, as a gift
from the RBL and MKC Heroes, to help the children to understand the importance of remembrance. ‘It is also a big ‘thumbs up’ to children from military families for their courage in facing the daily challenges involved in having a parent in the Forces.’
The booklets have information about MKC Heroes – a national tri-Service network that was set up to bring together children and young people of Service personnel and Veterans. Schools are able to sign up to become a part of the MKC heroes’ family, bringing together young people who are there for each other, especially in times of need…
