103rd Anniversary of Armistice Day at East Ham Cenotaph

This morning I laid a wreath on behalf of Newham Councillors at the Cenotaph in Central Park, East Ham. My colleague, Cllr Carleene Lee-Phakoe, Cabinet lead for Brighter Futures, had firstly laid a wreath on behalf of the Council.

It was a very well organised and moving ceremony. Many thanks to the British Legion, Newham Catholic Deanery Schools, Historians and Newham Council events team.

I will remember the many marvelous speeches, songs, prayers and contributions but will never forget the toddler who had escaped her mum to wander in front of the cenotaph during the two minutes silence and later was trying to copy The Reveille trumpeter by blowing into a rolled up programme.

The main shadow in the picture is that of our Newham Deputy Lieutenant, John Barber, in his full uniform.

West Ham Parish Church (All Saints) Remembrance Sunday 10th November 2019

This morning I attended yet another beautiful Remembrance Sunday service at the historic 12th Century West Ham Parish Church. I am a local West Ham Ward Councillor but I was there today to represent Newham Council as Deputy Mayor together with Deputy Cabinet lead for Children Service's, Cllr Carleene Lee-Phakoe (who had brought her delightful 11 year old daughter) and our Council's Chief Legal Officer, Daniel Fenwick.

There was soldiers from our local regiment 7 Rifles present and other voluntary groups with a number of former military veterans proudly wearing their medals including Cllr Winston Vaughan,  who served in the British Army during the Aden Emergency.

The Rev’d Canon Alex Summers conducted the service and gave a moving sermon during which he mentioned how he and his young family had visited the graves of his relatives who died in battle during the first world war. He made an important point that will future generations with the passage of time forget what has happened in these Wars?

We all hope not. If we forget how horrible and wasteful war is then it is more likely to occur again (and again).