I WAS surprised today that the memorial service at the Millennium Peace Memorial in Ludlow Square did not receive better attendance at the 11am reading, Last Post, minute’s silence and Reveille. I was the only attendee immediately following the brief ceremony to lay a wreath, in remembrance of those who have died fighting for democracy and freedom over the past 100 plus years.
It seems that others had been hijacked by a Church of England service in St Laurence’s church, and were only able to lay their wreaths an hour or so after the appointed time, despite the large expectant crowd who attended the 11am ceremony – most of whom I believe expected to see many more wreaths laid down at that time.
Surely in this country of people with many different faiths, as well as those like myself with no religious belief, it’s time the C of E stopped pretending to have a monopoly on grief and remembrance.
May I suggest that those who are responsible for organising next year’s Remembrance Day event arrange it in such a way that all may lay their wreaths at the appropriate time (about the eleventh hour), and those who wish to participate in a C of E service in St Laurence’s completing this either before or after the ceremony?
MALCOLM P ROCHEFORT
Chairman, Ludlow & Marches Humanists
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