Caversham remembers
Adam Hewitt • Published 15 Nov 2010 09:30
0 Comments
HUNDREDS of people marched through Caversham in a parade marking Remembrance Sunday.
Veterans, families, cadets and cub, scout and guide groups made their way from the Westfield Road park to the war memorial in Christchurch Meadows on Sunday for the Service of Remembrance.
Ron Jewitt, branch chairman of the Royal British Legion, told the crowd of more than 600: "We commemorate something every year, but this year especially because of the 70th anniversary of Dunkirk and the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, which changed the course of history for better, certainly for us and I think the world. It's also the 60th anniversary of the Korean War, which can be a bit forgotten. We've got veterans from all of these conflicts, though we've lost the last of the World War One veterans."
He asked everyone to remember Reading soldiers Cyrus Thatcher and Richard Green, both 19, killed in Afghanistan in the past 18 months.
Cyrus Thatcher's name was last year added to the war memorial.
Mr Jewitt said: "They were a lot younger than a lot of us standing here. We remember them."
Rev Derek Chandler, conducting the service, said: "War is always the end of the world in some sense, even if another world comes out of it. Today we collectively acknowledge those who have been through this experience."
Caversham Poppy Appeal organiser Pauline Palmer read a war poem called A Mother's Son by Plymouth author Jill Hassall, before she and representatives from Caversham's cub, scout and guide groups, Royal British Legion branch, cadets, St John Ambulance and others placed wreaths at the memorial.
The Salvation Army band of Lower Earley provided the music for the service, after which many in the crowd placed their own poppies on the memorial in private acts of remembrance.
Steven Dix, from Caversham Heights, said: "It's the first time I've come to the Caversham service, although five years ago I felt moved to go the service at the Cenotaph in Whitehall. I have a cousin in the RAF and my father and uncle served in the past and though I don't have direct experience of war, I feel it's important to pay our respects to everyone who has served."
Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.
