‘Spontaneous’ remembrance service held in Selsey

“We’ve all got our own problems to think about at the moment but people are still very mindful of those who have given their lives in the two world wars.”

That was the message from a Selsey priest, following a ‘spontaneous’ remembrance service in the village on Remembrance Sunday. St Peter’s Church rector Andy Wilkes said that, ‘even though we couldn’t do what we normally do’, there was ‘still a feeling of gratitude’ as a small number of people gathered around the war memorial. He said: “Between 40 and 50 people gathered in groups, all socially distanced, around the war memorial. We held a two-minute silence and the church was open for two hours for private prayers. It was lovely. The service wasn’t planned, what happened yesterday was spontaneous. Individual representatives left wreaths at the memorial in their own time and I made a cross on behalf of the church.” Father Wilkes said that it was important to mark the occasion despite the pandemic. “We need these community events,” he said. “We need to come together for something positive. We’ve all got our own problems to think about at the moment but people are still very mindful of those who have given their lives in the two world wars. I put the crosses out in front of the church. They represent the names on the memorial of all the servicemen who lost their lives. It’s a very visual thing for people driving or walking past. We may not have been able to stand on parade this year, but they can.”

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