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Thursday, November 18, 2021

Newbury Weekly News

REMEMBRANCE DAY

Animal tribute at Silchester service

SILCHESTER residents gathered at the village’s war memorial for the annu- al Remembrance Day ser- vice. The service was led by the Rev Rob Young and was at- tended by a large number of people from the Hampshire village and beyond. Wreaths were laid on behalf of various local organisations and groups, and a horse was wearing the animal purple poppy, recognising the contri- bution made by so many ani- mals in the war efforts. There was also a small ser- vice on Armistice Day itself, as Silchester Primary School gathered at 11am at the war memorial for the two minutes’ silence. That service was also led by Rev Young and remembered the fallen from both Silches- ter and Pamber Heath, with individual crosses laid by the pupils.

A horse wearing an animal purple poppy

Silchester Remembrance Day

Pictures: Pete Hughes

Light show honours Midgham war heroes Names and images of fallen soldiers projected on to St Matthew’s Church

THE names of a village’s war dead were projected on to the church as parishion- ers came together this Re- membrance weekend. St Matthew’s Church in Midgham was illuminated with the shadows of soldiers, nurses and falling poppies, as well as the names of the men from the village who died in the First World War, on Satur- day evening. Alfred Que, Edwin Wilcox and brothers Henry Cripps and Job Cripps were just some of the names. It was the second year that the light display of remem- brance has taken place. Stuart Roberts, owner of international events services company EMF Technology, came up with the idea after

By SARAH BOSLEY sarah.bosley@newburynews.co.uk @newburytoday

churchwardens Tony Billing- ton and Sarah Henderson, and Diane Hibbard, who provided hot soup, sausage rolls and mulled wine for the crowds who gathered to enjoy the dis- play and remember those who had given their lives in battle. Mr Roberts, whose grand- father was one of the first liberators at the Bergen-Bels- en concentration camp in the Second World War, also thanked farmer Andrew Inn- wood, who allowed the event team to project from his near- by field. “We had a good turnout this year,” he added. “It was a good local gathering and everyone in the village had a chat and a mulled wine. We’re considering doing it again next year.”

moving to the village a year ago. “We did it last year and it was really well received so the church asked if we would do it again,” he said. “We work in conjunction with the church and it’s a real community effort. “Derek Collier, a local histo- rian, provided three images of the soldiers that we colourised and animated so they were suitable for projection. “There were 14 names of the local soldiers who died in the First World War. “The three photos were in- terspersed with the names and the poppies scrolling down the

church.” Mr Roberts’ company again provided the projections, vid- eo content and editing for the event, which also raised “a re- spectable sum” for the Royal British Legion. He organised the Remem- brance projection along with Busy time for Scouts COLD Ash Scouts attend- ed church services in both Frilsham and Yattendon as the villages paid their re- spects to those killed in battle, this Remembrance Sunday. The two services were led by licensed lay minister Wen- dy Willoughby-Paul and took place at St Frideswide Church, in Frilsham, and St Peter and St Paul Church, in Yattendon. Both services were well at- tended by members of the pub- lic, as well as members of the 1st Cold Ash Scout group, who laid wreaths at both churches. Soldiers from Hermitage Bar- racks also took part in the ser- vice in Yattendon, where they laid wreaths.

St Matthew’s Church in Midgham was lit up with images and the names of men from the village who died in the First World War

Services were held at St Peter and Paul Church, Y a t t e n d o n (above) and St Frideswide Church in Frilsham (left)

Pupils at Sulhamstead and Ufton Nervet Primary School took part in a service of Remembrance in the village last week. The school walked down to Ufton Nervet church for an outside Remembrance Service outside on November 11. This service is held in conjunction with the Royal British Legion (RBL) and the children headed to church behind RBL volunteers and a piper.