Services and marches in tribute to fallen soldiers

REMEMBRANCE services and parades were held at war memorials and in churchyards across the Henley area on Sunday.

More than 800 people took part in a parade for the villages of Benson and Ewelme.

Current and former service personnel joined residents in High Street at around 10.30am.

The parade then marched to the war memorial at the junction of Oxford Road and Church Road.

The service began by the reading of the names of servicemen and women who have died while serving at RAF Benson since 1945.

Councillor Fiona Lovesey read the Exhortation and at 11am the Last Post was played before a two-minute silence.

After Reveille was sounded, an RAF Benson Chinook flew over the crowds.

Wreaths were then laid by
23 groups, including Benson Parish Council and Benson guides and brownies.

Other wreaths and private memorials were then laid before a blessing by Rev Patrick Gilday.

The service at the memorial ended at 11.20am, ahead of a church service at St Helen’s.

Cllr Lovesey said: “It was an immense honour to read the Exhortation. Standing alongside our village community to pay tribute to those who gave their lives for our freedom is a deeply humbling experience.”

More than 130 adults and children gathered at the lych gate war memorial at St Peter and St Paul’s church for the joint service of Checkendon and Stoke Row.

The roll of honour was read before traffic was stopped for the Last Post to be played by Tim Davies on the trumpet, ahead of a two-minute silence.

Uniformed organisations, including cubs, beavers and scouts, led people into the church where the colours were presented during the first hymn.

Rev Canon Kevin Davies, who led the service, spoke about two 19-year-old war casualties from Stoke Row, who died during the Second World War.

Peter Burrell was defending France from Germany when his plane was shot down on May 3, 1940.

James Harry Bird, a landing craft driver for the Royal Marines, died on D-Day, June 6, 1944.

Rev Davies said: “It’s so important today to remember. If we don’t make an effort to do it, those lads, for example, who gave their lives will be forgotten.”

There was a remembrance service at St Thomas of Canterbury Church in Goring.

Hundreds of people made their way to Rectory Gardens where a newly installed cascade of 1,750 poppies resides, to mark 80 years since the end of the Second World War.

The roll of honour was read by the church warden, naming 75 residents died in the world wars and are commemorated on the memorial in Manor Road. The Last Post was played by Nick Cooper on the bugle before a service in the church for a service.

Children from beavers, cubs and scouts lit candles on sticks made from artillery shells during different prayers.

About 60 people attended an outdoor service at Kidmore End war memorial, which was led by Karen Broadbent and Brian Theobald.

Wreaths were laid by parish councillors of Sonning Common and Kidmore End and children at the primary schools.

The two-minute silence was marked by David Grey on the trumpet before around
30 people made their way into the church for a service.

A parade took place through the village of Nettlebed.

Starting from the bus shelter at 10.30am, about 60 people marched to St Bartholomew’s Church, with Gavin Pitson, a squadron leader at RAF Benson, in attendance. The names of 47 soldiers who died in the world wars were read from the roll of honour at the lych gate by Margaret Butler.

The bugle was then played by a member of Ascot Silver Band ahead of the two-minute silence.

Members then paraded to the village hall, where the village branch of the Royal British Legion held its annual lunch, which was attended by 36 people. Chairman David Challis said: “It was an amazing turnout. We’re very lucky to be supported by our residents and others.”

At the lunch, a branch certificate of appreciation was presented to Anne Jackson for collecting poppies for more than 20 years.

About 80 people marked Remembrance Sunday in
Sonning Common village hall, led by retired Royal Navy Lieutenant Commanders, Alex and Gillian Manning.

Mr Manning emphasised that the day was about remembering and honouring all, service and civilian alike, who had been affected by war.

He then read the poem Why Do You March, Old Man?, followed by the Exhortation.

At around 11am, Mrs Manning sounded the still on her naval boatswain’s whistle to mark the start of the two-minute silence. The end was marked by her sounding “carry on” and speaking the Kohima Epitaph.

Specific mention was made, as in previous years, of the three former pupils of Chiltern Edge School who died in recent conflicts, Francis (Fred) Slough, Cyrus Thatcher and Barry Weston.

Wreaths were then laid on behalf of the parish council and the secondary school at the memorials to the three men in the foyer of the hall. Mrs Manning and her granddaughter, Phoebe Westerline, nine, then jointly read Why Are They Selling Poppies, Mummy?

Refreshments were served, provided by the Women’s Institute, while residents explored the display of artefacts relating to both world wars and the subsequent conflicts from Mr Manning’s private collection.

A remembrance service with Holy Communion was held at St Leonard’s Church in Watlington on Sunday at 9.30am.

A parade for all took place along High Street to the memorial cross.

A marching group from RAF Benson led the parade of the town groups.

The airmen were under the command of Squadron Leader John Burgess, Sergeant Webber and Brigadier Nigel Mogg, president of the local Royal British Legion branch.

Wreath laying by representatives of Watlington organisations then took place.

A service of remembrance was led by Rev Angie Paterson to hundreds of people.

Rev Paterson said: “It’s always a big event in the community with an active Royal British Legion group.

“I read a lot of names from the First and Second World Wars, 56 in total.”

Villagers of Woodcote observed a service of remembrance at 10.50am at the war memorial followed by a remembrance service in St Leonard’s Church.

Rev David Benskin said: “The wonderful poppy cascade in the church, our newest installation, shows the hard work of our parishioners, which I think also attracted more people on the day.

“It’s a visual symbol of people who fell during the two world wars and the others who fell after them more recently.”

About 20 villagers attended a service at the memorial in Rotherfield Greys.

Wreaths were laid by Nick Digby, chairman of the parish council, Edward Hems and Andrew Ovey. Priest Hugh Balfour led the service.

In Wargrave, around
270 people attended a service at St Mary’s Church, which was started by MP Clive Jones reading from the book of Isaiah.

A parade from Church Street to Mill Green then took place, including members of the Wargrave Royal British Legion branch and other groups.

The Last Post was played on trumpet by a member of Saint Sebastian Wokingham Band before 69 crosses were planted to mark the lives of Wargrave residents who died in the world wars. Around 500 people attended a service at St Peter’s Church in Caversham.

A parade included various uniformed organisations including Army cadets, scouts and girl guides. Around
20 wreaths were placed by the Royal British Legion, police and community groups.