Stunning beacon centrepiece of village remembrance
THE community of Kingsley turned out in force on Remembrance Sunday to remember those that served in the wars.
Remembrance Day started off with a Battle’s Over tribute at 6am at the War Memorial on Dovedale Road where more than 70 people turned out to pay their respects as piper Stephen Plumb played Battle’s Over and other Scottish laments.
The 11am Act of Remembrance attracted a far larger turnout than normal and as people filed into St Werburgh’s for the Remembrance Service they did so to the ringing of the Church bells which had announced the Armistice 100 years previously.
After the service refreshments were provided and there was a small display of research conducted by the Kingsley Remembers project.
The day was rounded off from 6.50pm where the Reverend Sue Symons spoke followed by Hilary Corby reading out the names of the 29 men to lose their lives in the war or afterwards as a result. This year was the 32nd that Hilary had organised the local ‘poppy appeal.’
This was followed by youngster Joshua Stevenson playing the Last Post. Then at 7pm a stunning beacon designed and built by local man Dan Lucas was lit and as the bells of the church once again rang out those present burst into a spontaneous round of applause in remembrance of all those who served in the war.
Once again refreshments were on hand at the church.
The organisers were overwhelmed that some 200 people attended the evenings event.
One of the organisers, Martyn Hordern, said: “The events were the result of hard work across the community from the Kingsley Remembers Project, St Werburgh’s Church, Kingsley British Legion, the Parish Council and others along with financial support from parish and district councils.
“The book All the Kingsley Men saw a second limited edition launched on the day.
“Of the 50 copies, almost 40 have been sold.”
There is also a free download from the project website where enquiries can be made if anyone wishes to purchase a paper copy of the book (for £5), online at www.kingsleyremembers1914.org. uk