On Sunday 9.30am a Church Service in St Michael’s Heighington will honour a few people who served in the Second World War. From investigation I came up with only seven who are still alive and reside in Heighington and Coniscliffe.
The church service follows an afternoon tea I organised in Redworth Hall a few weeks ago, where there were 107 guests, including 29 Civic Guests and the Lord Lieutenant who were keen to attend to support the veterans. It was a wonderful afternoon and all of our ‘special’ guests enjoyed the occasion.
Before this event, I met with each World War veteran, and managed to record a little of what they did in the war and this was read out during the afternoon – their war time experiences surprised, amazed and even shocked everyone.
There will be four people in church on Sunday, the other three are not well enough to attend. All are in their 90’s and the four have lived their lives in the Parish. Few of us who know them, have any idea of what they went through in the war; Sunday will change that as reading out their citations again will give everyone the opportunity to find out, the risks they took, the loss of comrades and times when they too were close to death.
Please join us to honour these remaining servicemen/women. Your presence will be a rare and unique opportunity to show them how much you appreciate what they did. Do not leave it to some Remembrance Sunday in the future when they will not be with us – join us now when they are with us so that they can see for themselves that their war time service is fully appreciated.
Bring your children to listen and perhaps appreciate the sacrifice of these very elderly and frail veterans from a war fought many years ago – a war that, had we lost, would have meant the loss of freedoms we all share and enjoy.
So do try to attend – they deserve attention, respect and a recognition of the dangers they endured. A full church will show just how much we appreciate their war time service.
Councillor Gerald G. Lee
Heighington and
Coniscliffe Ward