Remembrance Sunday in Itchen Valley Parish includes short acts of remembrance at the War Memorials of each of our villages: Avington, Easton, Martyr Worthy and Itchen Abbas during which we stop for a few minutes, in the words of the Kohima Epitaph, to remember those who ‘for our tomorrow, gave their today’.  A lot of people attend in each of the villages.

This year it was the turn of Itchen Abbas to hold the Royal British Legion parade.  Their numbers are a bit reduced now but the parade is led with calm efficiency by Admiral John Lang with Revd Amanda Denniss presiding.

St John’s church was filled to capacity for our Remembrance Service.    The children of the Ark led by Elizabeth Bouldin produced two amazing works – a huge poppy and a wreath of linked hands.

In the evening at St Mary’s Easton we held a service of Communion.  After the bell ringers had summoned everyone with a peal of bells which few churches can match

the choir singing the beautiful music of the Faure requiem.  Enjoying this music is always wonderful, but it is particularly poignant when part of a communion service.

The silence at the end of the ‘In Paradisum’ was pregnant with the beauty of the performance.

Thank you to all who sang and in particular to David for leading the choir so beautifully.