Rededication of the Birdingbury War Memorial
Sunday 3rd August 2014
To mark the centenary of the start of the First World War in August 1914 the Parish Council arranged for the war Memorial to be cleaned. Over 110 villagers and friends attended an event to rededicate the memorial and to reflect on the impact of war on both those who fought and those left behind.
The programme included the following:
- “We do not grow old” was read by one of our oldest residents, Bill Cowley;
- poetry readings by two young people – Kate French and Sebastian Coles;
- three older members of our community – Simon Davey, Peter Law and Leslie Turner provided moving accounts of the impact on war on families and loved ones;
- lusty singing of hymns and the National Anthem; and
- prayers for peace led by Kevin Downham (local church reader)
- music was provided by five trombonists – before, during and after the ceremony.
The sun shone and the wind blew and then the participants made their way to the Birbury where Jackie Westcott and her daughter Jenny provided a delicious afternoon tea. Local photographer, Michael Coles, took a great range of photos, two of which are included below. The whole event was judged by those attending as a great success: “Very seemly” said one immediately afterwards.
Dwt
29.8.14
The original unveiling ceremony for the memorial in 1921
