East Garston

The poignant Remembrance Service, held at the War Memorial on Friday 11th November was attended by approximately 45 people. This was the second consecutive year that Reverend Cumberlidge had conducted the service of remembrance here and the resulting increase in the number of parishioners attending, proves beyond doubt that this service has, for a long while, been a much missed part of village life here in East Garston.


Terry Butler, Princess of Wales Regiment	Squadron Leader Ian Ponsford	Air Vice Marshal David Hills	Lieutenant Commander Norton Lee RN

The occasion was graced by very distinguished former servicemen resplendent in their medals and insignia, including: lan Ponsford, former Squadron Leader in the RAF, a spitfire pilot, awarded the D.F.C. and the A.F.C. (Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Force Cross) David Hills, former Air Vice Marshal, who served with the RAF Medical Branch in the Far East, awarded Order of St John, Companion of The Bath and the O.B.E. in 1965. The Kohema Epitaph was given by Terry Butler who formally served with the Princess of Wales Regiment in the The Falklands, Germany and Northern Ireland

Reverend Tony Cumberlidge, former chaplain with the Royal Army Chaplains' Department who served in Germany, Cyprus, Northern Ireland and Bosnia and Norton Lee, former Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Navy, took part in combined operations in the Mediterranean, Normandy and in Holland, awarded D.S.C. (Distinguished Service Cross).

The British legion poppies were laid by Squadron Leader Ponsford and the Parish council wreath by Christopher Tonge.
Laurence Binyon's words were spoken by PC Matthew Clayton