Sit
tingbourne’s Remembrance Sunday event was extremely well attended this year as it marked the centenary of the Avenue of Remembrance; Sittingbourne’s ‘Living Memorial’. The tree lined Avenue of Remembrance was proudly decorated with over 180 large poppies and bows to commemorate the 182 plaques, recording those local men, named on the town’s original War Memorial, who fell during World War One and the 98 who died in the Second World War and the one Korean casualty.
Following a Civic Service at 10am in St Michael’s Church, led by Reverend David Ridley, attended by the King’s representative, Deputy Lieutenant Paul Auston DL (pictured right); Her Worship the Mayor of Swale – Councillor Sarah Stephen (pictured right); the Chief Executive of Swale Borough Council Larissa Reed, together with various civic leaders, a parade was organised.
The parade, headed by historic military vehicles, provided by the Invicta Military-Vehicle Preservation Society, together with the Mayor of Swale, and outriders from the Royal British Legion Riders, proceeded up Bell Road, along the Avenue and into Central Avenue.
The parade marshal, Sergeant Major Instructor Pete Cass, from the Kent Army Cadet Force, escorted the marching contingent, which was led by Deputy Lieutenant, Paul Auston DL and Lt. Colonel Simon Dean OBE, Kent Army Cadet Force, followed by standard bearers, ex-service organisations, Navy and Army Cadets, Kent Volunteer Police Cadets, scouting and guiding groups as well as members of the public. As the parade passed by the Avenue of Remembrance trees, each tree had a tree sentinel.
Over 115 members of the local community, some of whom were relatives of the fallen, bowed their heads as the procession passed. They, together with veterans and junior parade participants, then joined the parade to make their way to the War Memorial in Central Avenue.
It was at the town’s War Memorial where Minister Pat Tatchell led an extremely well-attended public act of remembrance. This event was additionally attended by MP Gordon Henderson’s Chief of Staff – Jess McMahon, Lieutenant Colonel Simon Dean (a grandson of Sittingbourne’s WW1 Victoria Cross recipient – Colonel Donald Dean VC). Along with the ex-service organisations, cadets, scouts, guides, brownies, rainbows and the public, were joined by the Police and Fire Brigade to show their respects.
The act of remembrance took place accompanied by music provided admirably by the Salvation Army Band; who also provided the sounding of the ‘last post’ to enable the 3000 plus audience to observe the two minutes silence at 11 o’clock. After ‘Reveille’, twenty-five white doves,
representing the twenty-five local areas and parishes around Sittingbourne were released, symbolising peace. Following this, over 40 wreaths were laid.
During the laying of wreaths, the flag bearers lowered their flags and the poem, ‘Vitai Lampada’ by Sir Henry Newbolt, was read by retired Royal Logistic Corps Territorial Army Officer Richard Emmett VR, and from the Sittingbourne Armed Forces Veterans Breakfast Club and chair of the Historical Research Group of Sittingbourne.
At the conclusion of the event, the salute was taken by the Deputy Lieutenant, as the parade marched off past the War Memorial, after which, the roadway was cleared to enable motorcyclists from the Royal British Legion Riders, led by veteran Sean Miles and his thirteen month old son Kenneth-John, on his toy motorcycle (pictured left), to give their own unique salute.
A round of rousing applause was given by the crowd.
A day for the town to be proud of.
Another highlight that many may like to know that took place is that on parade was local 100-year-old WW2 RAF veteran (pictured right), Squadron Leader Kenneth Drury, holder of a Distinguished Flying Medal and the Légion d’honneur.
There were so many memorable aspects of the event, but what made the event extra special was to unite two relatives of one of the fallen men. The tree had two branches of relatives, who didn’t know each other before the event; Cub scout William Chambers and Peter Luckhurst (pictured right) who were both proud and honoured to stand by the tree dedicated to their relative – William Luckhurst.
The group were grateful to relatives of the fallen as well as Miss Sittingbourne and her Princesses for taking part. Pictured Junior Miss Sittingbourne, Daisy aged 7, who was proud to be a tree sentinel (pictured left).
The event was organised by a community group, with the following representatives: Historical Research Group of Sittingbourne (Lead Group) – Richard and Theresa Emmett; St Michael’s Church – Rev David Ridley; Benefice of Tunstall and Bredgar – Minister Pat Tatchell; Kent Army Cadet Force and Challenger Troop CIC – Lt. Colonel Simon Dean OBE ACF; Armed Forces Veterans Breakfast Club – Stewart Kitching RE and Richard Emmett VR; Flowers by Beatrice – Sarah Fish; Event Volunteers of Swale – Karl Hudson; Salvation Army – Simon Perkin / David Wigg ; Sittingbourne, Milton and District Scouts – Angela Palmer and Linda Curzon; Girlguiding Sittingbourne – Lorna Castle; Invicta Military-Vehicle Preservation Society – Colin Port; Royal British Legion Riders – Sean Miles.
The parade was made possible by funding from Swale Borough Council’s Leveling Up fund, G H Dean & Co, Flowers by Beatrice and Bournes Family Funeral Services.
Also, our thanks go to: Mossys Garden Centre for loaning five laurel trees (pictured right), to represent the trees that are missing; to Flowers by Beatrice for the bows and fresh flowers that decorated the Avenue sign on the corner of the Appleyard (pictured below).
Thank you to the staff at the Appleyard who provided facilities for the preparations and refreshments afterwards; as well as those who arranged the refreshments at St Michael’s church. They appreciated the support given on the day by Parade Marshal – SMI Pete Cass, ACF; the St John Ambulance team; Public Address provided by VWP Sounds, Steve Davy; Salvation Army Band by Simon Perkin, David Wigg and musicians; Wreath Marshal, Second Lieutenant Charlotte Wharmby Sittingbourne Army Cadet Force; Andy Hudson of Sittingbourne.me who took the official photographs, Matthew Young who filmed for the You-Tube film and Historical Research Group of Sittingbourne stewards, John Weeks OBE, Don and Jacky Harris, Stewart Kitching, and Theresa Emmett; plus HRGS volunteers Janet Avery, Linda Matthews, Julie Jenkins, Kim Pedley, Julie Marriott, Colin Milborrow, Enya Williams, Lorna Castle and all those who helped the event run so smoothly.
The Mayor of Swale said: “It was an amazing day…a massive Thank You to the organisers, participants and volunteers for making it such a special event.”
HRGS has been researching the Avenue since 2012 and have just published a book that reveals that the town now uniquely has the last remaining thoroughfare within the United Kingdom and indeed across the Commonwealth of this type.
There are 370 pages of fascinating facts about the men commemorated along the Avenue of Remembrance, which is now on sale at the Heritage Hub, in The Forum, Sittingbourne, or from our online shop, for just £12.50.
Also, if you are interested in the men who are remembered on the Avenue from the First World War, you can check our website for more details: https://hrgs.co.uk/aor-ww1-names
Vitai Lampada
(“They Pass on The Torch of Life”)
Sir Henry Newbolt (written in 1892)
There’s a breathless hush in the Close to-night —
Ten to make and the match to win —
A bumping pitch and a blinding light,
An hour to play and the last man in.
And it’s not for the sake of a ribboned coat,
Or the selfish hope of a season’s fame,
But his Captain’s hand on his shoulder smote —
‘Play up! play up! and play the game!’
The sand of the desert is sodden red, —
Red with the wreck of a square that broke; —
The Gatling’s jammed and the Colonel dead,
And the regiment blind with dust and smoke.
The river of death has brimmed his banks,
And England’s far, and Honour a name,
But the voice of a schoolboy rallies the ranks:
‘Play up! play up! and play the game!’
This is the word that year by year,
While in her place the School is set,
Every one of her sons must hear,
And none that hears it dare forget.
This they all with a joyful mind
Bear through life like a torch in flame,
And falling fling to the host behind —
‘Play up! play up! and play the game!
Photographs courtesy of Andy Hudson. For more photographs from the day visit sittingbourne.me
A video of the event is available to view on YouTube.
Additional background information
What is Remembrance Sunday?
Remembrance Sunday is held on the second Sunday of November and commemorates British service members who have died in wars and other military conflicts since the first world war.
Originally Remembrance Day was held on 11th November each year, as First World War hostilities ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. In 1956 the date was fixed as the second Sunday of November. Each year Remembrance Sunday remembers all those who fought and died in any conflict, as well as veterans and soldiers who are still serving for their country.
Why Poppies?
The most recognizable symbol of Remembrance Sunday is the red poppy, which became associated with World War I memorials after scores of the flowers bloomed in the former battlefields of Belgium and northern France. (The phenomenon was depicted in the popular 1915 poem “In Flanders Fields,” by Canadian soldier John McCrae.) In 1921 the newly formed British Legion (now the Royal British Legion), a charitable organization for veterans, began selling red paper poppies for Armistice Day, and its annual Poppy Appeal has been enormously successful since.
If you would like to be involved in next year’s 100th anniversary of the opening of Sittingbourne’s Avenue of Remembrance, please contact Richard Emmett via Contact Us