The Anglican Church was packed with young and old, wearing their poppies with pride. They were there to remember and show deep respect to the brave young men and women who so selflessly gave their lives for us in World War I and World War II. They were there also to remember the fallen in more recent conflicts - The Falklands, Iraq, Afghanistan and the troops still stationed in the Middle East working to bring peace and stability.
As always it was a stirring and emotional service. The trumpeter Salvador Santamans announced the two minutes silence with a moving rendition of the Last Post. As the last strains echoed through the church, on the strike of 11am, the silence was absolute as the congregation stood, each with their own private thoughts, prayers and memories until the reveille sounded two minutes later.
For the first time in many years we missed Captain George Giri’s reading of the Prayer of Remembrance and we wish him well. He was Captain (Surgeon) in the Royal Navy during the Second World War and is one of the remaining few eligible to read the words with real authority. Other servicemen such as Bernard Smith were there, proudly wearing their medals.
The older members of the congregation remembered fathers, husbands and brothers lost, and the younger members spoke of great grandfathers, grandfathers and their own losses in more recent conflicts: men and women lost to war.
That we never forget. We Will Remember Them.