West Ham Remembrance Sunday 2024

 

This morning I joined the Congregation at the 12th Century All Saints Church in West Ham with my fellow Councillors, for the Service of Remembrance.  As well as local residents and veterans, there were Council, Police and Fire Brigade Officers as well as soldiers from the local Army Reserve unit, The 7th Battalion, The Rifles. 

The service was led by Rev'd Farida Pashi and was, as always, very moving and thoughtful. The choir are particularly good. Councillor Winston Vaughan, who served in the British Army (in a conflict zone) recited in full the Ode of Remembrance ("For the Fallen" by Laurence Binyon). 

This year I had been asked to lay a Parliamentary wreath on behalf of the new MP for West Ham and Beckton, James Asser, who was at Silvertown Remembrance service. 

Afterwards I had a chat and catch up with colleagues and residents and then a brief look around this amazing and historic church. 

Remembrance Sunday at All Saints West Ham (and visit to the bells)

 

This morning I attended the historic All Saints Church in West Ham for the Remembrance Sunday service. Our MP, Lyn Brown was there, as was soldiers from our local Territorial Army unit, 7 Rifles, Police, Veterans, church members, other Councillors and a senior Council manager.  

It was as always a moving service. We were reminded of the plaques on the walls of the church that remember the 700 named dead from West Ham parish who died in World War One. An incredibly high number. 

Also, the banner of the West Ham "Old Contemptibles", who were survivors of the First British Expeditionary Force, formed from the regular army, which served in France and Flanders between August and November 1914. 

"Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany, who was famously dismissive of the BEF, allegedly issued an order on 19 August 1914 to "exterminate ... the treacherous English and walk over General French's contemptible little army". Hence, in later years, the survivors of the regular army dubbed themselves "The Old Contemptibles". No evidence of any such order being issued by the Kaiser has ever been found".

During the service prayers were said for peace in Gaza and thoughts for the innocent victims of the violence, Israeli and Palestinians. 

Afterwards my Councillor colleague John Whitworth and myself were able to climb the narrow church tower stairs to see the bell ringing room and then the bells. An amazing site. The "ringers" will welcome anyone interested in finding out more about being a West Hammer bell "ringer". 

West Ham Remembrance Sunday & When the Guns Fell Silent

This morning I attended the Remembrance Day service at All Saints Church in West Ham, the ward I have represented as a Councillor since 2010. It was a marvellous and moving service, attended by our local MP, Lyn Brown, our local British Army TA unit, G Company 7 Rifles, Metropolitan Police, Parishioners, Royal British Legion and my Newham Council Councillor colleagues. 

Many thanks to Revd. Simon Nicholls (and his "West Ham team") for the service. I was particularly struck by the playing during the service of the above audio soundtrack of an authentic recreation of the actual end of the First World War at 11am on 11th November 1918. The artillery shells stop - and the birds start singing. 

Service of Thanksgiving at West Ham Church for Queen Elizabeth

 

This morning I went to a "Service of Thanksgiving" for the late Queen at  the historic, All Saints Church, in the ward I represent as an elected Councillor, West Ham, in Newham London. I was with the representative for the West Ham Parliamentary Constituency, Lyn Brown MP and the Mayor of Newham, Rokhsana Fiaz OBE.  

It was a wonderful service. A mixture of tradition possessions, hymns and prayers alongside more modern music performances.  During which Mayor Fiaz gave a Tribute and Lyn Brown MP, a Reading. It was in all a fitting way to honour the late Queen, who was very much a traditionalist but also kept up with the times. 

At the end of the service, for the first time, I sung "God Save the King", which did seem very strange at first but by the end it seemed more natural. The sight of young children from the church creche jumping up and down and dancing with excitement during the national anthem brought a smile to my face. I am sure that King Charles III would not mind. 

Afterwards I signed the book of condolences and thanked the Queen for her long public service. While I have explained previously my personal belief in constitutional reform, I  have nothing but respect for Queen Elizabeth. A dedicated, tireless public servant, who has served this nation in peace and war, for the past 96 years.

Mass in B Minor by JS Bach. 29 June 2019 at 7:30pm

Mass in B Minor by JS Bach. 29 June 2019 at 7:30pm

All Saints Chorus takes on another big sing concert. Book now on Eventbrite.

Jon writes

“Bach’s Mass in b minor, one of the greatest works of choral music performed in the 1000-year-old setting of All Saints church West Ham by the All Saints Chorus & Orchestra. A not to be missed event. Hear Bach at the height of his powers writing the most exciting and complex music for the voice. Rich orchestrations with sparkling trumpets will make this concert a feast for the ears.

Early booking advised as the previous concert was sold out.”

https://allsaintschorus.org/2019/06/05/mass-in-b-minor-by-js-bach-29-june-2019-at-730pm/

"Come & Sing" Handel's Messiah - West Ham Parish Church Saturday April 27 2019

Looks good. Despite being Welsh I am afraid that my singing gene is somewhat missing. Taking place in the best ward in Newham of course. 

Triangle Christmas Market - Sunday 9 December 11-4pm by West Ham All Saints Church E15 3HX

This will be a great Christmas event for the ward.

Beethoven's Symphony No.9 - All Saints Festival Chorus & Orchestra Sat 24th Nov 2018

Some culture for a change on my blog even though I have a clash next weekend and cannot make it!

"Symphony No. 9 in D minor op 125 (Choral Symphony) by Ludwig van Beethoven is one of the most famous pieces of music ever written. Instantly recognizable, it is unusual in featuring singing by four soloists and a full choir. The words are based upon a poem by Friedrich Schiller, Ode an die Freude (in English: Ode to Joy or, perhaps freedom). The poem has a strong message to all mankind: it is about living in peace and harmony together".

Check out  

West Ham All Saints Remembrance Service Sunday 11 November 2018

On Sunday I represented the Mayor and Newham Council at the 1918-2018 Remembrance Ceremony at West Ham Parish Church All Saints with Chair of Council Cllr Joy Laguda and our Director of Finance, Michael O'Donnell. With our local MP Lyn Brown, we each laid a wreath of poppies together with G Company 7 Rifles (our local British Army Reservist unit based nearby in West Ham), Police, British Legion and local residents.

It was good to see a large contingent of soldiers in uniform from our local regiment 7 Rifles present. In past Remembrance ceremonies at this Church, members of G Company had been on active service in Iraq and Afghanistan.  I am now of an age, that they all look too young to put their lives at risk and wish that fighting for all countries and all beliefs was only restricted to older folk such as myself over the age 50.  I doubt that many wars would still happen if this was so.

Chair of Newham Councillor Scrutiny Committees, Cllr John Whitworth and Councillor Winston Vaughan also attended (Cllr Vaughan is a British Army Veteran) While local Cllr, Jane Lofthouse actually had a lovely singing voice (and saved the reputation of the Council since none of us could hold a note).

Newham Council had supported 8 separate Remembrance events across the borough this historic weekend with the Mayor, Cabinet, Senior officers and Councillors attending.

The new Parish Priest, Revd Cannon Alex Summers, led an excellent and moving service (despite a heavy cold) and spoke about two of his great uncles, who were killed in the first world war. He and his young family had visited the war cemetery of one of his uncles in France and noted that the graves of British and German dead were buried alongside each other. It seemed fitting that former enemies were laid in peace together. I completely agree.

The Church is a beautiful Grade 1 listed building and was founded in the 12th Century.  I recommend a visit. There is a Beethoven Concert there on 24 November 2018 which I sadly cannot attend due to pre booked clash.

After the ceremony my wife Gill and I went over to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to view the "Shrouds from the Somme". Visit, look and listen to the endless names of the unidentified dead. It is heartbreaking.

Newham Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday 2016 :Remembering West Ham Pals

Picture collage incorporating last Friday's moving 11/11 Armistice Day service at the Central Park Cenotaph and the following Sunday Remembrance Day service at the historic West Ham All Saints Church.  West Ham MP Lyn Brown laid a wreath on behalf of Newham (top right).

Top left of collage is a picture of Cllr Winston Vaughan, who I think is now the only elected Newham Councillor to have been on active service in the UK Armed Forces. He is seen wearing his campaign medal resulting from the Aden Emergency in 1967.  Cllr Ann Easter is pictured with her husband Christopher Owens who is a Chaplain to the Newham Sea Cadets.

The Remembrance Service at All Saints on Sunday 13 November was also particularly moving since I was aware that it was the 100th anniversary to the day of a very bloody "Battle of the Somme" First World War attack at Quadrilateral, France by the locally recruited "West Ham Pals" Battalion.

During the service a young,  newly commissioned Lieutenant from the local Army Reserve Battalion "7 Rifles" gave a reading and also then talked about his experiences of comradeship and team building as a soldier. Like me he had first joined the (then) Territorial Army at University.  

Abbey Gardens Winter Fair - Saturday 6 December 2014

"Dear friends,

Winter is fast approaching and so is the end of the gardening season 2014.

At Abbey Gardens we are busy harvesting parsnips, celeriac, chard and leeks and having a good shed clear-out.

The last event of this season will be our Winter Fair on
Saturday 6 December, 4 pm-6pm

Visit the garden in Winter and celebrate the season with us. There will be:

· Warming winter drinks
· Soup made from Abbey Gardens’ produce
· Christmas carol sing-along lead by members of Regent Community Brass Band
· Cards and garden goodies on our honesty stall
· Lots of fairy lights
· And our ever-popular cake stall

Free entry. Drinks, food and honesty stall produce for donations to the garden.

It will be nice to see you in the garden, come and join us for some festive fun.

For a perfect ending to your day, why not continue on to All Saints Chorus and Orchestra's 20th anniversary concert. They will be performing Bach's Christmas Oratorio at West Ham Parish Church (All Saints), Church Street, E15 3HU. The concert starts at 6.30 p.m. Tickets are available on the door and are priced at £15, concessions £10.

And if you are keen to soak up some early Christmas atmosphere come and see us at The Printhouse Christmas Market on Saturday 22 November. The Printhouse is located at 133 High Street, Stratford, E15 2RB.

Thank you for all your support this year.

Friends of Abbey Gardens"

From our events team
Publicity graphics kindly donated by Catherine French

96th Anniversary of the Armistice - The Cenotaph, Central Park, Newham

Yesterday morning at 11am there was another beautiful Remembrance Service in Newham.

On Sunday I went to All Saints Church in my Council ward West Ham.

On Armistice Day itself I went to show my respect with many others at the Cenotaph in Central Park, East Ham.

It was very well attended and crowds of mostly school children completely encircled the Cenotaph.

East Ham MP Stephen Timms and the Mayor laid wreaths as did many local organisations and schools. Local children gave some fantastic readings and moving poetry recitals.

St. Antony's School recounting of "In Flanders Field"  by John McCrae, was particularly poignant and I am sure that I was not the only one with something in my eye by the end.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Remembrance Sunday & Armistice Day

Yesterday morning I went to the Remembrance Sunday Service at West Ham Parish Church of All Saints. This is in my Council ward  and at 1,000 years is one of the oldest buildings in Newham.

The Church is currently undergoing a major programme of restoration with scaffolding everywhere but it still retained its solemnity and dignity.

The Revd Stennett Kirby led the service and our local MP Lyn Brown gave a Bible reading. Following Reveille, the Kohima Epitaph was given by an elderly veteran whose slow, deliberate rasping voice made all of us think of those who gave their today for our tomorrow.

Wreaths were laid with respect by the dignitaries, British Legionaries, serving soldiers and cadets. The most touching was the last which was laid by a little girl of 3 or 4 who had to "persuaded" by her Mum and encouraged by others, to go up and lay her little wooden cross with a red poppy on it.  But what was lovely is once she had finally done this, she turned round and skipped her way back to her Mum across the Church.

The address was made by Rifleman Franklin Anolue, 7 Rifles, G Company, West Ham who was in his Army Battle dress.  Franklin had recently served in Helmond Province in Afghanistan with his regiment. He told us he had always wanted to be a soldier ever since he saw the film "Saving Private Ryan". He was a student studying engineering and a part time soldier with the Territorial Army. He hadn't told his Mum he was going to Afghanistan until he was there, since he knew she would try and stop him! He had gone to Remembrance services before he went on his tour of duty but it is only now that he can really understand why it is so important to remember all those who put themselves in harms way for their country.

Remembrance Sunday takes place on the 2nd Sunday of November every year. This morning I went to the out door Armistice Day Service at the Central Park Cenotaph in East Ham which takes place at the anniversary of the end of World War One, at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th Month.  This was another very moving service. What was particularly important to me was the number of children from local primary and secondary schools who attended and participated in the service.

Also the emphasis on the "forgotten" Commonwealth and the absolutely vital role played in the First and Second World War by Africans, Asians and Caribbeans who defended our country and our freedoms.

The picture above is of my Taid (Welsh for Grandfather) in the trenches during the 1st World War.  He is sitting on the left and I think the picture was taken in Gallipoli where he served in Hawk Battalion, Royal Naval Division. This is a smashing photograph of my Taid. Dan Filson on FaceBook thought he looked like a 1950's teddy boy! Which I am not that sure about but having "attitude" may explain why he survived being on the front line in Gallipoli, Flanders and the Somme for 3 long years. He won the Military Cross in 1917.

Remembrance Sunday: West Ham All Saints 2011

This morning I went to the Remembrance Sunday Service at the West Ham Parish Church of All Saints.  This is one of four "official" Remembrance events taking place today in Newham.  The Revd Stennett Kirby took the service. It was as usual a touching and moving occasion.

This year Captain Ben Firth from our local West Ham Territorial Army Unit, 7th Rifles, spoke in full dress uniform from the pulpit.

Ben talked eloquently about his experiences in combat in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.  In 2006 he went out aged 25 as an infantry platoon commander responsible for 30 men on a 6 month tour.  Ben also spoke about the hardship and intensity of combat, of 9 hour long gun battles with the enemy, of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and the inevitable resulting casualties.

But he also talked about holding regular tribal meetings with local leaders, establishing trust, providing them with a generator to bring electricity and giving toys to local children. He said it is the winning of these battles of hearts and minds that actually makes serving our country so worth while.