In Remembrance: Honouring the Past, Reflecting on Our Present

At this month’s Purpose Session, Jake Meyer, our Global Accounts Director and a serving Officer in the Army Reserve, led us through a powerful exploration of Remembrance. It was a session that moved many of us deeply. With grace and sincerity, he guided us from the trenches of the First World War to the quiet stillness of the present day, reminding us that remembrance is not about glorifying war but about recognising its human cost and the enduring hope for peace that follows.

As Jake shared, remembrance began as a collective pause. A nation stopping for two minutes to remember those who never came home. Today, it carries an even broader meaning: one of unity, gratitude and reflection. It is a time to honour all who served, all who sacrificed, and all who continue to serve in ways seen and unseen.

Jake’s session reminded us that remembrance is not only marked in ceremonies or silence, but in the values we live by every day: compassion, humility and integrity. He spoke of the poppy as both a symbol of remembrance and of renewal, its red petals carrying the weight of history and its green leaf turned to 11 o’clock as a quiet act of memory and hope.

Many of our colleagues at Inspirational Group have served in the armed forces or are connected to the military community. Our long-standing links with Sandhurst mean remembrance carries special significance for us. It is personal, profound and deeply human.

As Jake reflected, remembrance takes different forms around the world. From the Last Post echoing across British village greens, to dawn gatherings on Australian beaches, to the soulful ringing of church bells in France. Across languages and borders, remembrance binds us together through shared respect and the universal longing for peace.

We are incredibly grateful to Jake for sharing such a moving and thoughtful session, and to everyone who joined, listened and reflected. For those who could not be there, we invite you to take a few moments to watch the recording below.

Let it be a moment not just of remembrance, but of gratitude. For the lives lived, the sacrifices made and the peace we strive to protect together.

Please note: This recording includes a few minor technical glitches as Jake was joining remotely from London. Despite these brief interruptions, the content remains clear and deeply meaningful — we believe it is well worth sharing and reflecting on.