East Garston

This year we held our annual Remembrance Service on Saturday the 10th of November, the reason? - well, as adept as he is at his job, our Vicar still hasn't perfected the art of being in two places at the same time. Sunday of course he is scheduled to hold the Service at St Michaels and All Angels Church in Lambourn. This year was the first time we had been without the glorious Autumn sunshine of previous occasions, despite being very overcast - the rain that had threatened the event did not materialise and we saw around sixty people in attendance. In line with last year, the service was again preceeded by a 20 minute ring of muffled bells from members of East Garston's band of bellringers.

2007 is the fourth year in succession that this service has taken place in the village. You will recall that previous ministries had virtually ignored this important and poingnant service, giving remembrance a woefully inadequate few minutes coverage in the normal Sunday Communion service. Thanks to Revd. Cumberlidge, those days are now a thing of the pas........(KT)

There were three wreaths. One from The Royal British Legion, laid by Col. (Ret'd.) Marcus Coombs. One from the Parish Council on behalf of the parishioners of East Garston, laid by Chairman Christopher Tonge, and the third from All Saints' Church, laid on behalf of the Vicar, Churchwarden and the Congregation, by Sally Wright.

Laurence Binyon’s Lines were given by Col (Ret’d) Marcus Coombs, late Royal Scots Dragoon Guards. The Kohima Epitaph was given by former Sgt.Terry Butler who served with the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment. P.C Matthew Clayton read the lesson (John 15 :12-17).

Millions of young men and women - 947,000 of them from the British Empire - lost their lives in the First World War. Millions more died in the Second World War. It begs the question "Was World War One a triumph of democracy over imperial expansion or an exercise in military futility?" The bottom line is - that whichever you decide to be the right answer, the need to forever remember the victims of this appalling part of human history, is of paramount importance.

Whatever the season, here in England we live in a country packed to the hilt with stunning natural beauty. We are able to enjoy it as many times as we wish - and whenever we wish. More pertinent is the fact that we can do it in complete freedom. Millions before us had that opportunity taken from them...We are indeed, fortunate...

" THANK YOU "