Last Sunday was our annual opportunity within the Itchen Valley to hold our various Acts of Remembrance within each of our four villages.

Overall around a hundred people gathered by the memorial crosses in the three villages of Martyr Worthy, Easton and Avington at 10.00am; and, an hour later, a similar number were gathered around the cross in Itchen Abbas for the two minutes’ silence in the presence of the Royal British legion.

Wreaths were laid on behalf of the Royal British Legion, the Winchester Sea Cadets, Hampshire Couty Council, and our local Schools—Prince’s Mead and Itchen Abbas Primary School. Once again, we are so grateful for the excellent trumpet playing of Andrew Salmon and indeed for all who came together from across our community to mark this important occasion.

In the service that followed in St John’s church, our theme was ‘Christ is our Peace’; and those attending were each given a postcard with the painting by George Hillyard  Swinstead (see previous post).

Our collections in church totalled £410, all of which has gone to the Royal British Legion. When this is added to the money collected through both the Poppy Appeal and through the ‘Ride for Remembrance’ (organised by Andrew and Stephanie in the Cricketers in Easton), the total sum will be considerably higher—all going to support such an important cause.

Revd Peter