Remembrance Sunday at Resolven

REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY

AT

RESOLVEN

 

The annual Sunday Remembrance Service was held at St. David’s Church Hall at 10.30a.m on 12th November 2017.
The Service this year was conducted by Father Andrew Davies and the Flag Bearer standing proudly beside him was Mr Ashley Philbrick. Before Father Andrew commenced the Service, he stated that he was full of praise to see so many people from the community attending the service (every seat was taken with standing room only) and gave thanks to all who had come together to remember those from the village and the surrounding area who had made the ultimate sacrifice.

 

 

After prayers and hymns from the Remembrance Service Sheet, the congregation moved outside to the War Memorial where a large crowd had gathered.

The Act of Remembrance then commenced and all the names were read out from the War Memorial by three young children helped along by Mr David Richards.

 

The Royal British Legion Flag was then lowered by Mr Philbrick to the emotional sound of the ‘Last Post’ by Ms Karen Partridge, (who is now a familiar figure to the local community as she has been the Bugler for Resolven for well over 35 years.).

The two minute silence was followed by the raising of the Royal British Legion flag as Ms Partridge played the ‘Reveille’.(a military bugle call which is played after a ‘silence’).

 

After prayers by Father Andrew,  it was time for the Wreath laying ceremony. This ceremony is performed at War Memorials the world over, and the small community of Resolven are proud to show their respect by the many local organisations who participate with the giving of a Wreath.

The order of the Wreath Laying for 2017 was as follows:-

Resolven Community Council

As NPT County Councillor Desmond Davies was not available the wreath was laid by Cadet Davies.

Royal British Legion

Leah Thomas

Sardis Baptist Church

St David’s Church

Ynysfach Women’s Institute

Ynysfach Primary School

Resolven Cubs and Beavers

Resolven Miners Welfare

Resolven Football Club

Resolven Rugby and Cricket Club

Mid & West Wales Fire and Rescue Service

As the Service was nearing the end, the sky darkened and the rain, which was just a drizzle during the laying of the wreaths, started to fall quite heavily. It was noticeable that as the National Anthems were being sung, there was no movement in the crowd until the service was finally over.  As the crowd left quietly the Resolven heavy rain continued to fall.

Lest we Forget

“They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old,

Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn,

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

We will remember them”

(Taken from the poem ’For the Fallen’ by Laurence Binyon)

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A footnote of thanks

Later that afternoon Mr David Richards who is the Secretary of the Resolven Branch of the Royal British Legion was seen busy removing the posters around the village regarding the 2017 Service of Remembrance, so we took the opportunity, with his permission of course, to take a photograph of him at the War Memorial.

Unfortunately, the Royal British Legion Club building at Resolven closed its doors some time ago and it is mainly due to the efforts of Mr David Richards and Mr Roger Place and others that the Resolven Branch of the Royal British Legion is still active.
Grateful thanks to all involved.