The Crowds Return

No blue skies on Remembrance Sunday, November 14, again this year, but although it was unseasonably warm there was a heavy mist to chill the bones of those attending the Billericay Remembrance Day service at the War Memorial in the High Street.

Would the crowds of previous years ignore the mists and return in 2022? The answer was a resounding “yes” as thousands thronged the High Street for the very moving tribute to the fallen, amongst whom were club members Ed Harrison, Malcolm Acors, Peter Greene, Patrick Rothon and wife Carol, and Roger Kettle all there to pay tribute to the fallen and watch as President Michael Ginn laid the wreath from the club.

As usual, a Remembrance Parade by the Army, Navy and Air Force cadet forces, British Legion, Scouts, Guides, and other local organisations marched down the High Street from Sun Corner and took up positions around the memorial.  And what a smart and solemn presence they were.

Rev. Paul Carr, Team Rector of Billericay Churches and a former Billericay Rotary Club Member, opened the service.

A Moving Ceremony

Following an initial hymn came the reciting of that symbolic poem:

They shall not grow old, as we who are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

And the response:

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them

The Last Post was sounded, followed by two minutes silence, then followed by a bible reading, a hymn, and prayers.

There are names of 62 fallen from World War I and 54 from World War II inscribed on the War Memorial.  As each of their names, regiments and ages were read out by members of the cadet forces present at the service, members of the Armed Forces and Associations, Civic and Community Groups, Churches and Service organisations, Businesses, Schools stepped forward to lay wreaths.

Finally, members of the public had an opportunity to pay tribute by laying wreaths or planting crosses.
Amongst those laying wreaths this year were members of the local Ukrainian community.  Two young Ukrainian girls stepped forward to lay a special wreath in the colours of their national flag.  (Afterwards they expressed their thanks and gratitude that they were asked to join the service at a time of such turmoil in their own country).

President Michael Ginn represented the Club in the presence of Members present, laying our wreath alongside the town’s other Rotary Clubs – Billericay Mayflower (represented by President Mark Chambers) and Billericay Town (represented by President Kevin Smith).

The Service ended with the National Anthem and the parade marching off to the loud applause of the crowd.

There ... Again

For the fifth year, the War Memorial was flanked by the two “There but not There” Tommies, one of which had been fully funded by us in the memory of the late Club President Trevor Stansfield, also past Chairman of the Town Council and many other town organisations.

Trevor was dedicated to ensuring our War Memorial reflected the pride in which we hold those who had lost their lives for us. 

We end this report as is customary with the words of that famous Remembrance poem:

“At The Going Down
Of The Sun And In
The Morning, We
Will Remember Them”