Remembrance Sunday
9 November 2008
See Alan Taylors excellent pictures from France on the Festival of Remembrance
thread in Letters Club.
See the very interesting Comments below.Add yours.
Moving Ceremony:
There was a beautiful and moving ceremony held today (Sunday Nov9) at the Dover War Memorial outside Maison Dieu House, the home of the Dover Town Council. A large crowd turned up on a chilly day to pay their respects to the fallen, although the crowd may have been a tad smaller than in recent years.
The service was carried out as ever by the Rev David Ridley, with distinctive voice-over and music from our own Terry Nunn to guide us through the event. Much wreath laying followed from all members of the services and indeed from the wider community. It was all very moving and is certainly one of Dover's best and most poignant annual events. Doverforum spent time with the Town Councillors as they prepared for the day ahead and we will have pictures of all this to follow soon(now below). There is more to read about todays event in the Letters Club too.
And all can leave their message here as well. No membership required.
All very welcome.
Did you enjoy the service?
Three former Mayors and of course our current one too, all wearing their indicative offical red robes. There was a quiet and reflective mood in the council offices as all prepared for the ceremony to come, and as per tradition Dover always produces a very moving ceremony, and all councillors and staff play their part very well. On the left is our current Mayor Cllr Diane Smallwood, in the centre Cllr Gordon Cowan, and on the right Cllr Jan Tranter.
Here we have Cllr Sheila Amos on the left, a forum contributor for many years, and a successful Councillor too, also in the picture is the popular Cllr Ann Smith. The shot on the right shows Deputy Mayor Sue Jones on the left of shot. On the righthandside is the busily effective Cllr Ronnie Philpott, while in centre of shot is Ronnie's hubby Mr Philpott himself.
Our local MP Gwyn Prosser along with Mayor Diane Smallwood and Cllr Gordon Cowan welcome a delegation of Councillors from Calais. Our friends from Calais were made very welcome and took part in the Ceremony laying a wreath at the Memorial.
The picture on the left is of the popular Chairman of Dover District Council Cllr Bernard Butcher with his good wife Margaret as they prepare for the occasion. On the right the ever popular Cllr David Hannent with wife, the lovely Linda.
Newly elected Town Councillor for the St Radigund's ward is Viv Revell and here she is enjoying her new found status. It will have been her first Remembrance ceremony as an official, although I understand it that Viv is also a District Councillor. Good luck to her in this new role. On the right is the effervescent Town Clerk Mike Webb and wife Carole, both looking very fit. Mike was a busy bee on sunday as the event takes quite considerable organising.A smooth running is obviously essential.
And just to finish off. This is an informal snap of Gwyn Prosser MP and Cllr David Hannent enjoying a cup of coffee together prior to getting ready for the event. All and all it was a very moving ceremony and a grand occasion. The nation as a whole celebrated in fine style, but although the Dover service is fairly small in comparison to some, it is a excellent event. Long may it continue.
Add your comment below, comments always welcome. End.
See Alan Taylors excellent pictures from France on the Festival of Remembrance
thread in Letters Club.
See the very interesting Comments below.Add yours.Moving Ceremony:
There was a beautiful and moving ceremony held today (Sunday Nov9) at the Dover War Memorial outside Maison Dieu House, the home of the Dover Town Council. A large crowd turned up on a chilly day to pay their respects to the fallen, although the crowd may have been a tad smaller than in recent years.
The service was carried out as ever by the Rev David Ridley, with distinctive voice-over and music from our own Terry Nunn to guide us through the event. Much wreath laying followed from all members of the services and indeed from the wider community. It was all very moving and is certainly one of Dover's best and most poignant annual events.
And all can leave their message here as well. No membership required.
All very welcome.
Did you enjoy the service?
And just to finish off. This is an informal snap of Gwyn Prosser MP and Cllr David Hannent enjoying a cup of coffee together prior to getting ready for the event. All and all it was a very moving ceremony and a grand occasion. The nation as a whole celebrated in fine style, but although the Dover service is fairly small in comparison to some, it is a excellent event. Long may it continue.
Add your comment below, comments always welcome. End.
- yes today I had the honour to read the act of Remembrance in my own church after the last post like some of you I was in the army but never had to go through what they done or our army and R.A.F. is doing today. I would just like to read out again today.
THEY SHALL NOT GROW 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.
-------------------------------------
WHEN YOU GO HOME,
TELL THEM OF US AND SAY,
"FOR YOUR TOMORROWS, WE GAVE OUR TODAY."
- Wonderfully moving photos.
We will never forget them. - Sorry, but I missed the service in Dover, was at Manston for a small, but moving memorial there.
I love the image on this page and wonder if the photographer deliberately included the fallen leaves between the crosses - very symbolic I thought.
My thoughts are with all who loved and lost in any conflict. - Very moveing service nice to see so many young people takeing it all in,
Thank you calais for your flag and flowers,Mike Web and his team did a grand job thank you. A big thank you to Dave Romans for a wonderfull field of remembrance. - I did not make the service in Dover for the first time in many years, as I went up and took part in the London Service of Remembrance.
I was there for the first time and I am glad I did it was such a moving day, the organisation, the crowds, the parade and most of all the act of remembering. Talking to some of those men and women that had been through so much made me feel so humble. An experience I will remember and hope to do again.
- Is it just me or does Cllr Tranter appear to be looking younger than ever in this latest shot??
Wish she would share her secret.
Great pictures by the way. Didn't get to the service yesterday, but we did watch the service in London on TV.
I find I get VERY emotional, thinking of all the service men and women across the world, who either lost their life, or who are putting themselves on the front line. - I realise this is Dover Forum but of what interest is the same old faces getting ready for the service .,for something which spans generationsWould make a change to see photos of Deal or Sandwich
- Yes indeed, a very well organised and moving service. A good cross-section of Dover residents - of all ages; many young people involved in the service itself.
The weather was very kind too; Jean came down for the first time and although it was a long time on her feet, coped pretty well.
On rememberence, did anyone see the BBC4 program on Walter Tull last night ?
A very good program, but nothing mentoned about any local connections.
Roger - I like the picture of the 'Field of Remembrance' PaulB, as BuddyG said it is a very moving shot, also good to see our friends from Calais laying a wreath at the memorial to the fallen. May they never be forgotten.
- Sue, Doverforum were invited to take pictures of the councillors and dignaturies preparing for the memorial service at Maison Dieu, so obviously this we covered for the Dover Community at this special time to remember the fallen.
- We have attended this service every year since coming to Dover and it is a great privilege to photograph it and bring it to the people of Dover on this Forum.
Photography has played a huge part in recording our brave war heroes who have fought in so many different campaigns throughout the world. The fallen leaves amongst the crosses says it all. - A big well done to Julia Bensted, the deputy town clerk, and her colleagues who were in the driving seat this year. The music by the way was by Cantium Brass from Chartham Hatch.
Terry - As one of the most important services of the year its always good to see how many people turn out.
And I know from talking to the many Association's we have in Dover they all appreciate us doing so.
Also good to see our French counterparts there to.
And a good picture coverage as always. - Tusday off to the Menin Gate Memorial. I have crosses to take to the feild of remembrance and a wreath for the Menin Gate may I use the photo of our field to put in the center of our wreath as this is a wonderfull photo and says it all Thank you all again for a very moveing day.
- Alan please help yourself to the photo, very pleased that you want to take it on such a noble mission.
Glad the photo is popular. Just a note for BuddyG to say I didnt add anything to the scene Buddy by way of leaves or anything like that...in a way all the work was done for me by the builders of the memorial display.Thanks to all for the comments, as ever they are great to read. - Did anyone see the Michael Palin program on BBC 4 last night at 10pm ?
It was about the last people to be killed on November 11th. 1918.
I couldn't believe that so many soldiers were killed just before 11.00am on the 11th.
Generals and others in command, who knew the armistice had been signed still ordered their trops to take bits of land, that in just a few hours they could walk to without any problem, wasting thousands of lives.
Through this stupidity, around 10,000 soldiers were killed between the signing of the Armistice and 11.00 when it took effect - about 6 hours.
So sad and such a waste - wasn't most of it ?
The war to end all wars - if only.
Roger - Dear Paul
how do i put photo's on site - Alan you cant add photos to this page but you can add photos in any posts in the Letters Club. Look at the top right hand corner of the post box(the box that you type your postings) and you can see a little line that says "add a picture to this post" or words to that effect...and bobs yer uncle. Good luck.
Watty