26/11/05

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 90 people, ended at 3.45pm. The Naval hymn "Eternal Father Strong to Save" was sung at the end.

After that, the members of the congregation 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 Mick Tapsell whose father was a survivor of the sinking.

The wreath was laid by Pam and Ben Tobin, children of survivor Fred Tobin who died 10 years ago. It was the first time Ben and Pam (pictured) had attended the service without their father.

The short service during which the Standard was laid on the altar, was taken by Canon Robert Wright, Sub Dean of the Abbey. At the conclusion he read Alfred Lord Tenyson's poem, "Crossing the Bar"

Ray Oliver of the Committee said he had been expecting 67 people but 90 came. There were 5 survivors including a "new" Survivor, Mr Keith Bennett from Ashwell in Herts who attended the service for the first time, accompanied by his son, David. Mr Bennett was 20 years old at the time of the sinking and an able seaman. He was four decks down when the ship began to sink.

Also attending the service were the three grandsons of survivor Fletcher Evans of Durban, South Africa. Andrew and Robert Mowatt (pictured) and their cousin Gordon Bunting all now live in London. Their Grandfather died last year.