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21 Monks Way AUTUMN 2010 NEWSLETTER The Very Reverend John Hall, Dean of Westminster Abbey, has given permission for us to hold our Remembrance Service at the Abbey on SATURDAY 27th NOVEMBER. Survivors, members and guests are requested to enter the Abbey by the west door no later than 1430 and proceed to the seating in the centre of the nave. Prior to Evensong the Abbey staff will direct us to seats in the choir stalls for the service. For people who have never been to this service I find it one of the most moving celebrations at which to be present. On completion of Evensong we retire to the nave seating for our service in memory of all those who died in HMS BARHAM and we also remember all those survivors and Association members who have passed away. The service starts with the parading of our standard by CPO Bob Woodgate and is followed by the laying of the wreath. The wreath is again being made and very kindly donated by Pat and Alan Pickett, thank you. If any member or membersof the Association wish to lay the wreath please let me know. After the service the book of remembrance will be open for inspection. Last year three survivors were among the ninety seven members and their friends who attended the service. This is well up on some previous years and is very pleasing that so many wish to support our service and keep the name of HMS BARHAM and their loved ones in their memories. Some members have planned to meet at the Methodist Central Hall restaurant for a light lunch and get together before the Abbey services. The Union Jack Club has again kindly given permission for members and their friends to use the club’s bar and restaurant after the Remembrance service. The Union Jack Club is in Sandell Street on the east side of Waterloo railway station. The guestbook on our website has a steady stream of entries from members of families of those who served in HMS Barham but for whom the Association has never before had any contacts. We would welcome any of them who wished to come to the Remembrance service. We are in the process of having a HMS BARHAM memorial stone erected at the National Arboretum near Lichfield The work is being undertaken by a Soke on Trent stone masons who are carving and erecting the stone on our behalf . The cost to the Association is £ 2500.00 of which we have paid a deposit of £ 1000.00 We still have the list of all those who asked to attend the dedication and will promulgate the date and time when known. At the arboretum there are already two oak trees and a seat in memory of those lost in HMS BARHAM. One tree is in the Royal Naval Review, the other tree and the seat are near the My Remembrance Day Poppy Garden. With the very impressive new Armed Forces memorial to all those killed since World War Two the arboretum is well worth a visit. Sadly we have to report the death of our President , Lord Barham who died on the 29th December 2009. He was a staunch supporter of the Association and will be sorely missed by all who have known him. A memorial service was held at the Brompton Oratorywhich was attended by my wife and I and Mrs Sara Wrigley. We sent a letter of condolence to Lady Mary his widow. We also learned that the Reverend Jeremy Bradford died in January 2010, His father was the ship's Commander who was killed in the sinking Jeremy will always be remembered for the poem he read at St Ann's Church in HM Dockyard Portsmouth which brought tears to the congregations eyes. With ever fewer survivors attending it is intended that next year's 70th anniversary Remembrance service in Westminster Abbey will be the last time that the HMS BARHAM Survivors Association standard will be paraded. With the kind permission of the Chaplin it will subsequently be laid up in St Ann's church in Portsmouth dockyard. I would like to thank all those who have been in contact with the Association for their support and gifts. I would also like to thank my committee for all their work to keep the organisation going. Yours sincerely, Michael Stratton-Brown Chairman |
last updated: 13 July 2013 |
andrew gillespie