Earlier today, I attended the Remembrance Sunday service at St Mary's Episcopal Church in Broughty Ferry.
It was a thought provoking service during which one of our congregational members read out the names recorded in the roll of honour inscribed on the chancel screen. This included the names of several members of the same family who had died in the first world war.
When you go home
tell them of us and say
For your tomorrow
we gave our today
(Kohima Epitaph)
During the service, I was particularly remembering my maternal Grandfather, Herbert Stevens, who had been born in Maidstone and I had known had served in the First World War. I had always assumed that he had joined The Queen’s Own Buffs, The Royal Kent Regiment. While I was browsing through a box of assorted papers kept by my Mother, I discovered his Character Certificate. This confirmed he had, in fact, served in the Royal Scots Reserve until he was discharged, 'no longer fit for war' in October 1917.
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| Rev Brian Talbot |
On Friday morning I attended the annual service of remembrance at Grove Academy. As this was a continuous Professional Development (CPD) day at Grove, it was mainly teachers and a handful of senior pupils who were joined by clergy from Ferry Churches and Councillor Kevin Cordell and me.
The service was led at the memorial by Rev Dr Brian Talbot minister at the Baptist Church in The Ferry. After the laying of the wreaths, we went into the hall for the remainder of the service. In a short address, Rev Graham Taylor focused on former pupil Brian Murphy, who died thirty years ago during the Falklands War. Brian had been Deputy Flight Commander on HMS Ardent.
At the school's annual prize giving, a Brian Murphy Trophy is presented to two pupils who have tried hardest, but whose achievement might not normally be recognised.
This was a moving service of remembrance.
