St Peter’s Curdridge remember the fallen
OVER the ‘Armistice weekend’ St Peter’s Church, Curdridge, shared an exhibition honouring those from the village, and relatives of current villagers, who sacrificed their lives in action during WW1.
The exhibition featured individual histories of those from Curdridge who died, accompanied by a collection of very interesting artefacts kindly lent by their relatives. These included poignant cards, telegrams, photos and memorabilia. The exhibition also highlighted the role of women in WW1, the war in the air and at sea, and life at home, together with general information about the war.
The exhibition included various artefacts and memorabilia donated by villagers.
On Saturday 10th November the church, as part of a moving tribute to those brave men and women both on the home front and the battle front, gave a reading of The Great War poems of Siegfreid Sassoon (read by Carey Blake) as well as poems from a number of female poets (read by Kathleen Watson). The readings were accompanied by a recording of beautiful cello music, ending with Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah. Members of the audience were visibly moved.
Over 200 people, including local uniformed groups, gathered on Sunday 11th November at the War Memorial outside St Peter’s Church to pay their respects to all servicemen and women who gave their lives in the world wars and other conflicts. Poppy wreaths were placed in the memorial.
After the names of the fallen were read, and two minutes silence held following the sounding of the Last Post, those assembled moved into the church led by the standard bearers of the Beavers, Cubs and Scouts from the 29th Itchen. The flags were received at the altar at the beginning of a moving service led by Rev Jim Brasier and Janet Clarke. Rev Brasier spoke to the children about the meaning of the poppy.
The service of Remembrance.
The service also drew attention to the three perspex silhouettes that had been placed in the pews as part of the ‘There But Not There’ initiative with details about the three servicemen, taken from the exhibition, being shared. During the service 29 candles were lit by members of the congregation for the 29 servicemen and women from Curdridge who died in the First World War. Following this the congregation members each placed a poppy in netting against the altar, creating a wave of poppies. The service ended with the standard bearers dipping their flags as the National Anthem was sung before the blessing.
The church bells were rung in the evening as part of the commemoration taking place across the nation. Beacons were lit, joining many others all over the country, as a final act of remembrance on the day.
