Monday, 11 November 2013
Remembrance day 2013
In terms of attendance at the Christchurch remembrance day, procession and service I am quite junior only being involved since 2007. Some of my colleagues however go back to the eighties and have greater knowledge of the attendance than I. We all agreed however that the number of people who lined the high street and packed into the Priory this year was at an all time high. The solemnity and dignity of the occasion was heightened by the cross section of silent observers and participants from civilian to military, from young and old, male and female. The Priory service was simply beautiful with the choir performance exemplary. A day to remember those that gave their lives for others. A day to remember, simply magnificent!
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To my mind,one of most damaging results of Christchurch being governed by people with no roots in the Borough is their total disconnection with the towns history. How many councillors today have even the vaguest knowledge about the part this town played in the lead up to the Allied invasion of Normandy? I would be prepared to wager very few if any and it shows in the fact that very little of the history from this period has been acknowledged.
I think that you are completely wrong. Councillors are in fact very aware of the importance of Christchurch during the war and specifically for the invasion force. I wonder if you bothered to attend any of the services?
Hello Somerford1962: Good to hear from you again, though you've still omitted to say what you do for the local community, which I have asked for several times in the past and you're presumably ignoring. However, disregarding that, I moved here almost two years ago. I run two local websites - including a new one just started about Highcliffe and its attractions. I also attended three Remembrance events on that Sunday.
Perhaps you think that those who weren't born here should have no part in their adopted community. On the other hand I've already researched our local history fairly extensively, and it is an ongoing and increasingly fascinating process. Maybe new blood is not such a bad thing!
I attended my first rememberance day parade back in the mid 70s when I was a member of the Boys Brigade. My abiding memories are of cold crisp mornings, the climate has certainly changed since then. I was thinking particularly of the U.S. Air Force presence in the town which aside from a belatedly commissioned memorial,has received very little formal recognition. I am pleased to learn that you have been doing some research Assessor. Hopefully you will have discovered that Christchurch has about as much connection with the county of Dorset as John Arlott.
Sorry, Somerford1962, this actually made me laugh aloud! Did you attend any of the services THIS year? I assume, as your name is Somerford1962, that you were about 10 then, so presumably went with your parents. Still no news of what you are doing now?
Not really investigated Christchurch being in Dorset or Hampshire. I don't actually think it very important: times move on.
At the memorial garden in Purewell we always lay a reef on the monument which specifically remembers the American forces. You really aught to do more research!
I am well aware of the memorial at Purewell. May I suggest that Assesor researchs the occasion when some bright spark at the town hall decided to award the freedom of the borough to the Dorset Regiment? He might be surprised to discover just how important tradional county allegience is to the townsfolk.
Which townsfolk would surprise me? Perhaps you could encourage them to register and post here. You do seem inordinately concerned about it. Have you thought of broadening your opinions, instead of using the emotive term bright spark?
Was it you I saw on Remembrance Sunday at the Purewell memorial? Or perhaps it was the Priory, or maybe St Mark's?
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