Remembrance ServiceBy John Glanfield
“There never was a good war or a bad peace” (Benjamin Franklin).
On Sunday 9th November the sunshine lifted everyone’s spirits as a full St John the Baptist Church awaited the procession in a mood of strange exhilaration. There were babies at the back, families and two army captains in service dress uniform, bemedalled. It was Liz Stewart-Liberty’s fifty-fourth attendance. A quartet of Second World War veterans mustered – Robin Allison, Peter Leslie, Leslie Robins and self. For everyone old enough to remember 1939-45 it was emotional. In came the standard bearers, the scouts and guides all proud to be a part. Movingly Leslie Robins and Rod Neal read the lessons. David our vicar rose to the occasion in the pulpit. Slowly everyone moved to the War Memorial for the Act of Remembrance. Bill Pearce read the roll call of those who died in both wars, the 1914–18 list appallingly long. Robin Allison pronounced the Exhortation. The last post sounded in the still air, the tears not far away.
Service chiefs have awakened the country to be conscious of our young men and women in the forces who volunteer to defend us. In my case four friends, now dead, were decorated: one sailor, one gunner and two engineers. Four more friends did not make it. I have one comrade from Burma still alive.
“I summon up remembrance of things past… but if the while I think of thee dear friend, all losses are restored and sorrows end” (The Bard).