24/11/01

Prayers were said for the lost crew of HMS Barham at a service of Evensong held at 3pm today in Westminster Abbey.

The service, attended by 150 people, including 11 survivors and 4 members of the ships company who had left before the ship sank, ended at 3.45pm at which point the members of the congregation connected with the Barham, were invited to process out of the Choir to the area where the book of Remembrance was set up on a lectern in the centre of the Abbey.

The Survivors Association standard was paraded by Keith Miller, and Canon Robert Wright of the Abbey said prayers specifically for the Barham crew. He mentioned that it was the sixtieth anniversary of the sinking and prayed that the lives given were not in vain.

He also read Alfred Lord Tenyson's poem "Crossing the Bar" . Finally before the blessing, he read out the names of the survivors who sadly have died since the last service at the Abbey, during the last year.

• Wally Wake
• Jimmy Annadale
• John Marsh
• John Cross
• Arthur Harman
• Allan V. Andrews
• Ted Parker
• John B MacKenzie
• Paul Camilleri
• Dave Picket

The wreath of red and white carnations, was laid by the Earl of Gainsborough (Lord Barham) A number of people asked how many survivors remain alive. Mr Stratton-Brown, secretary of the Barham Survivors Association said there were 53 who are members. "There may be others who are not members" he added.