The Remembrance Sunday service was led by Archdeacon the Venerable Andrew Sewell and took place in the Church of St Mary the Virgin on November 10th.
The Upchurch uniformed youth organisations paraded from Drakes Hut and formed a guard of honour along the entrance to the south door of the church.
At the service, a very full church remembered all those who made the ultimate sacrifice in WWI and subsequent conflicts for this Nation.
Many of those present wore their service medals or the service medals of their parents or grandparents. Eight wreaths were laid in turn in the Lady Chapel. The wreaths were on behalf of the church, the Mayor of Swale, The Royal Navy Clearance Divers Association, Ferques (our twin village in France*), Upchurch Parish Council, Upchurch Scouts, Upchurch Guides and the Upchurch Brownies.
The names of all those on the Upchurch memorial tablets in the Lady Chapel who made the ultimate sacrifice in WWI and WWII were then read out in the order recorded. At 11:00 hours, the bugler played the Last Post, and the two minutes silence was observed, followed by the singing of the National Anthem.
At the end of the service, the choir led the congregation to the middle burial ground. Wooden Remembrance crosses were laid at each of the five War Grave Commission graves by present or past members of the Armed or Civilian services.
Once the crosses were laid, all those present stood in silent Remembrance on what was a dull morning only brightened by the autumnal foliage. The Archdeacon concluded with prayers.
During Remberancetide it was pleasing to see the village showing poppies on lamp posts, knitted poppies on the church railings and elsewhere. In the cemetery, two tall crosses had been placed, guarded by two silhouettes of “Tommys”.
My Royal British Legion thanks to those responsible for these displays.
*Upchurch Parish Council sends a wreath to Ferques for laying on Armistice Day when the French remember their war dead.
Hon. Alderman Gerry Lewin
Email: lewing135@btinternet.com
