SIMPLE TRIBUTES FOR REMEMBRANCE

Four poppy wreaths and one small wooden cross were laid round the Cenotaph in St. John's Churchyard on Sunday and Monday as villagers made their own tributes, both collectively and individually, as part of the country's annual remembrance commemorations.

Fifty people attended the Service of Remembrance on Sunday, led by the Rev Robb Wainwright, while at the Act of Remembrance on Armistice Day itself, 21 were present at a short service led by a former vicar of the parish, the Rev Christopher Cornwell.

Access to and around the churchyard was made much easier and safer this year thanks to a small handful of village volunteers led by Gary Cross, the landlord of the Masons Arms. The Rev Robb had contacted Gary, prior to Remembrance, to ask if he might be willing to get a “working party” together to help clear the churchyard of fallen leaves, (always a slip hazard at this time of year) as well as trimming bushes in preparation for both the wreath laying ceremonies. Without any further discussion this took place eight days before Remembrance Sunday when13 builders' bags of leaves and bush trimmings were taken away by Gary and his team. Huge and grateful thanks are expressed to this small bunch of volunteers by the Rev Robb, who is extremely appreciative of their efforts.

It is anticipated that this tidying for Armistice could take place on an annual basis.

Gary and the team at the Masons also paid a very heartfelt tribute, set out in the pub, to centenarian Ernest Tindall, a regular at the pub and a military veteran who died earlier this year. Their remembrance can be seen in one of the pictures above. "A true gentleman, WW2 hero, POW, father and friend" said Gary at the time of this death