Remembrance Service on the Front Common
Almost 600 children and adults came together to remember those from the villages of Penn & Tylers Green who have given their lives on behalf of their country.
The service was led by Revd. Samuel S. Thorp and included members of the family of L/Cpl Thomas Harding 70 Field Coy., Royal Engineers who died near Rouen 28th August 1944, leaving his pregnant wife. Their son Brian, who never met his father, and his family still live in the village; Thomas’s great niece and nephew were present at the service, and attend the same school that Thomas did all those years ago.
Sam Isaacs, Head of Tylers Green Middle School read the Binyon Citation
‘They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old, Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We will remember them.’
Roy Bentham (former Chair of Penn Parish Council) and his grandson Theo, played The Last Post and the Trumpet Reveille to mark the beginning and end of the 2 minute silence.
Pupils from Tylers Green Middle School read the poignant Kohima Citation ‘When You Go Home, Tell Them Of Us And Say, For Your Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today.’
Wreaths were laid by the Harding family, Major Barrie Fisher on behalf of the Army Cadet Force and other local residents, whilst former military training instructor Roy Rigg was the Royal British Legion standard bearer.
The pupils of the Tylers Green First School sang ‘I’ve Got Peace Like a River‘, an African-American Spiritual Baptist Song which was so appropriate for the service.
Thanks to the wider team who make this event so special; Tim Marshall OBE, Bill Sadler, Revd. Graham Summers, David Byrne, Geoff Roberts and all the staff and volunteers of the First and Middle schools and Little Oaks who ensured that the children travelled safely and behaved impeccably.
