Villages set for Remembrance Sunday services
Churches around Peasedown St John, Wellow and Shoscombe will be holding special services on Remembrance Sunday, 8th November. Peasedown St John’s annual Remembrance Sunday service will be held in St John’s Parish Church, Church Road. Starting at 2.30pm, the service will feature presentations from members of the Cubs, Scouts, Brownies, Guides and other uniformed groups. Last year over 200 people packed the church to remember those who have given their lives in conflict. Revd Matthew Street, who is chaplain to the uniformed groups in the local area, will be leading the service. Last year, the service marked the 100th Anniversary of the start of the First World War. This year, there will be a special focus on the Code Breakers of Bletchley Park, who were instrumental in leading the UK and allied forces to victory in the Second World War.
Revd Street said: “Each year it is important to collectively remember those that have laid down their lives for the freedom and civil liberties we all enjoy today. At this year’s village remembrance service we will especially remember the Code Breakers of Blentchley Park. Even though not active in conflict themselves, many people believe these men and women, with their creative intelligence and thinking, were the essential fabric that led to the defeat of the Nazis at the end of the war. We shall also take time to read aloud the names of the fallen, one by one.”
Wreaths will be laid during the service at the war memorial in the church by members of the uniformed groups, B&NES Cllr Karen Walker, Cllr Kathy Thomas – Chairwoman of the Parish Council, Captain (Retd) Dick Beath late of the Light Infantry, and local PCSO Tony McIntosh.
Prayers will be led by Revd Matthew Street and B&NES Council’s Human Right’s Spokesperson, Cllr Sarah Bevan. Cllr Kathy Thomas will be reading a passage from the Bible.
Meanwhile in St Julian’s Church, Wellow, a trumpeter will lead the Last Post during the Remembrance Service which starts at 10.45 am.
In St Julian’s Church, Shoscombe, the Remembrance Service will start at 10.00 am, a two-minute silence will be observed with Revd Matthew Street speaking.