Learn from the past for a peaceful future: Alcester marks Remembrance - The Redditch Standard

Learn from the past for a peaceful future: Alcester marks Remembrance

Redditch Editorial 12th Nov, 2018   0

BOTH old and young have been urged to come together and learn from the trauma of war to ensure peace reigns in the future.

That was the message from Mike Gittus, the chairman of Alcester Royal British Legion, as the town marked 100th years since the guns fell silent on the Western Front.

“This Remembrance Weekend was a remarkable testimony to the community of Alcester who came out in their thousands to remember this very special time,” said Mr Gittus.

“It was also an opportunity for the town to reflect and learn how the impact of war on us as a nation and our community is unimaginable.




“And I invited the young and old to talk to each other about their recollections of war because it is the youngsters of today who hold the key to peace in the future.”

Saturday saw the dedication of Alcester’s war memorials by the Rev’d Adrian Guthrie and was followed in the evening by a Remembrance Concert in St Nicholas Church.


Remembrance Sunday began at 6am in a biting wind and cold rain as a piper played ‘Battle’s O’er’ on Church Green.

The main service at the war memorial saw residents pack out the streets before moving on to the culmination of the day.

This saw the official opening of the new Centenary Fields recreation ground and a rendition of The Last Post by Vic Butler of the Alcester Victoria Silver Band before Mr Gittus ensured Alcester joined the rest of the nation by lighting the Remembrance beacon.

“There must have been at least a thousand people there, and I’m pleased to say the beacon lighting went with a wow,” said Mr Gittus.

“We’d had a lot of rain but someone up there was smiling on us and when I lit the blue touch paper up it went, the town crier called out for peace and the bells rang out.”

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