AFTER a year of virtual meeting and Remembrance it was with relief for many that Frome marked Remembrance Sunday with a parade and service on Sunday, 14th November.
Jointly organised between the Frome Town Council and Frome Branch Royal British Legion, over 1,000 attended this annual observation. All fell silent at 11 o’clock, to remember the fallen, the injured and those affected in conflicts past and present.
Frome Branch RBL, reports, “The service was led by Rev Colin Alsbury who read the Exhortation. The recorded voice of the late Ron Stone broke the silence with the Kohima Epitaph before Harley Wye from Frome Town Band played Reveille after a note perfect Last Post. Commemoration is personal, and as the nation came together in this two-minute silence, thoughts were with those loved, and lost.
“The opening address paid respect to those who had served in WW2 and who have died in the past year; as Rev Alsbury said, “The like of which we will not see again”: Ron Stone, Royal Marine commando who fought in Burma, and Ivor Pickford 5th Wilts, Normandy Landings whose families laid wreaths in their memory; Ken Miller, Navigator RAF 206 Squadron; Alan Sandall, WW2 fire fighter and Royal Navy, lately RNA President; and John Fuller, a child in those times.
“Hilary Daniel, whose health prevented him from leading this service as he has done so for so many years, was also remembered.
“Col. (Rtd) Richard Aspray of the Frome RBL laid the first wreath followed by the Mayor cllr Andy Wrintmore and cllr Anita Collier who served as Mayor during Covid lockdown in 2020.
“Many organisations including Hilary with assistance dog Wilbur for Animals Remembered, were represented in wreath laying, where cadets from Frome ACF maintained the dignity in receiving and placing the wreaths at the Memorial.
“John Price led a lay reflection by addressing past and recent loss. It was the 80th anniversary of German incendiary bombs being dropped over Frome on Good Friday, 1941. Air Raid Patrol Wardens Ernest Barnes was killed outright, William (Billie) Cole died four days later of wounds in the Victoria Hospital while the third warden, Jack Berry, was uninjured. It was just weeks since Simon Plenty, Trustee of the Memorial Theatre had died suddenly aged just 63.
“And then he addressed the anniversary of the first Arctic convoys in WW2, remembering those who have served and continue to serve at sea in the Royal Navy and Merchant Navy, and all those who have lost their lives at sea. As the band prepared to play Sunset and the flag was once again lowered, Maj (Rtd) Price CCF poignantly said, “Stand down; duty done”.
“With HM The Queen unable to attend the Act of Remembrance at the Cenotaph due to poor health is was with added gusto that the Frome Town Band drum rolled for the National Anthem. Parade Marshall Lt Barry Eggleton, Writhlington CCF adult volunteer who had so resplendently led the parade then dismissed the Parade allowing for the public to come forward to make their own remembrance.
“Jane Norris from the Frome RBL, who has coordinated the event since 2009, paid respect to her grandfather, the same Billie Cole ARP warden who had been killed in 1941.
““Lest we Forget” never loses its meaning, she said, just as “We Will ALWAYS Remember”, even as the generations move on.”
