At sunset on Thursday 8th May, Revd Amber and the choir of St Peter’s led a tribute to all those who sacrificed so much in war. The community came together on the Rec for a moment of silence and reflection.
Revd Amber said, “It’s such a privilege to lead this event, but it’s a very deep and moving moment, and it makes us all think and reflect upon how we’re going to live today by the inspiration of what that generation went through with so much worry and trauma. It’s a real moment to never forget what the Allied forces did and what a whole generation did to bring peace and victory to Europe.”
Around 100 people came together. Accompanied by the St Peter’s choir, keyboard, flute, clarinet and French horn, we sang ‘God is our strength and refuge’ to the tune of the Dam Busters March and ‘I vow to thee my country’. Revd Amber read a tribute, there were prayers read out by young people and the singing of the National Anthem. In the silence, those present were encouraged to remember ‘those who gave their lives at home and abroad; those who came home, wounded, physically and mentally; the families that lost husbands, wives, sons, daughters; those in reserved occupations and the brave people who kept everyone safe on the home front.’
This reflection was part of a number of events organised by the Ropley Fayre committee with much support from others in the village. The day began with a brief ceremony to raise the Union flag in St Peters churchyard, later people of all ages from 9 months to 99 years old shared tea, cake, wartime stories and memorabilia. Thank you to those who ransacked Grandad’s kit and to the schoolchildren who wore it. 1940s news reels were playing in the background and over £250 in donations was raised for the Help for Heroes charity.
In his talk Cdr Bill Dawson RN(Retd) reminded us of the work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission around the world, preserving the memory of those who fell by following its motto “Every Story, For Evermore”. Ropley men buried in the churchyard include Captain Richard Minnards of Southfields, Monkwood, who won the Military Cross in North Africa, Lance Bombardier Francis Hurst, groom and whip at the Hampshire Hunt, Sergeant Sidney Wilks, farm labourer of South Street, and Petty Officer Stoker Harry Neale, post boy and groom of Station Cottages. Their stories can be read at https://www.ropleyhistory.org.uk/
At 6.30 pm the Ropley Bellringers joined the national call to ring in celebration of peace. After working up an appetite, they joined over 130 neighbours to enjoy a fish and chip supper remembering the fishermen who fed the nation and the land girls who grew the potatoes.
We may not have had Churchill’s great great grandson to light our remembrance lantern, but we did have 88-year-old Humphrey Carr. He commented, “My father was in the RAF, but I was away at school by 1945. I was there on VE day; we celebrated with a nice tea. The fact that people have come here today to remember is important and we want people go on remembering, so that these awful things don’t happen again.” The evening ended by the lighting of the lantern to represent the light of peace after the darkness of war.
Catherine Harris