On Sunday 9th November the Trust held its annual Festival of Remembrance in St Michael’s Church, East Wickham. This year the names of 14 men from East Wickham and Welling who died in the First World War were read for the first time alongside the 106 men remembered in previous years. These additional names have come to light over the two years of our WElling WILL REMEMBER THEM research project. Fittingly the roll of honour of the men who died was read by representatives of the volunteers on the project.
Almost 600 people attended the Festival and guests included MPs David Evennett and James Brokenshire, Major James Cleverly, GLA’s Assembly Member for Bexley and the Right Reverend Dr Michael Ipgrave, Bishop of Woolwich. We were also especially pleased to welcome family members from 7 of the men on our Memorial. The Mayor of Bexley, Councillor Howard Marriner, laid a wreath in memory of the men who died
Music was provided by the Belvedere Concert Band, the East Wickham Singers, the WI Choir and soloists Steve Fortune, Bernard Brook, Barry Sullivan and Bill Cooper. Moving extracts from One young man; the simple and true story of a clerk who enlisted in 1914, who fought on the western front for nearly two years, was severely wounded at the battle of the Somme, and is now on his way back to his desk (1917) were read by Samuel Oatley. The full text can be read by clicking on the link.
A retiring collection raised a record £1,600 for the Not Forgotten Association. Thank you!
Photographs by Sylvia Scotting and Rosemary Thomas