Lest we forget

OLDHAM fell silent for two minutes at 11am yesterday as the borough paid its respects to the fallen soldiers of war.

Five soldiers killed by a rogue Afghan police officer last week and two more deaths at the weekend brought losses into sharp focus.

The memorial outside Oldham Parish Church was the venue for the main civic ceremony.

The Mayor, Councillor Jim McArdle, led the wreath-laying with two Chelsea Pensioners among those paying tribute.

Father Phil Sumner told the gathering: “We pray for all who in bereavement, disability and pain continue to suffer the consequences of fighting and terror.

“We remember with thanksgiving and sorrow those whose lives, in world wars and conflicts past and present, have been given and taken away.”

Hymns were played by Oldham Metropolitan Borough Music Centre Band and a bugler sounded the Last Post and Reveille.

Church leaders from across the borough reported big turn-outs for services despite cold weather.

In Shaw and Crompton, Rev David Jones, minister at St Paul’s Methodist Church, Rochdale Road, led the service at the High Street war memorial with Father Harry Edwards, of Holy Trinity; Captains Anthony and Heather Goodwin, of Shaw Salvation Army; and Phelyp Bennett giving prayers and readings. Around 200 people attended with Shaw Youth Band providing the music.

Rev Jones said: “It seems to get bigger every year.”

Uniformed services assembled at the Co-op in Royton for a parade to the service at the war memorial in Royton Park. They marched past Royton Town Hall afterwards.

Hundreds made the steep trek up to the Pots and Pans memorial above Greenfield where Rev Howard Sutcliffe led the service. MP Phil Woolas was among those who laid a wreath.

Father Neil Chappell led the service at Greenacres Congregational Church where around 70 people attended to honour the 22 men from Greenacres who died in the First World War and the seven from the church who lost their lives in the Second World War.

He used a multimedia presentation to tell their stories, including Chronicle cuttings to read the obituaries from the Second World War.

About 40 people including some very young children joined together at the War Memorial at Austerlands. Susan Smith read part of Ammon Wrigley’s poem “The Lads of Austerlands & Scouthead” written for the unveiling of the roll of honour at the Royal Tiger in Austerlands in 1915.

Assistant Curate Rev Ruth Farrar led a joint service for all the Lees churches at St Thomas’s Church, Leesfield, followed by a procession to the war memorial in Lees Cemetery. Lees Brass Band provided the music.

Around 2,200 people from churches across Failsworth gathered at the war memorial on Oldham Road for a service led by Rev Adrian Matthews from St John the Evangelist Church.

A parade left Failsworth Community Centre to walk around the local area to the memorial. The 7th Failsworth Scouts band played en-route and Failsworth Brass Band provided the hymns.

Representatives of uniformed organisations including the cubs, scouts, brownies, guides, cadets, air cadets, the Territorial Army, a representative of the Mayor and community groups laid wreaths.

Rev Matthews said: “It was an incredible turn-out.”

In Chadderton, the Right Rev Martyn Jarrett (assistant Bishop of Manchester) conducted the service at the war memorial in Chadderton Town Hall gardens.

Ex-servicemen and women and local scouts, guides and brownies attended a procession from Chadderton Reform Club to the memorial and back for refreshments and entertainment.

Rev David Hawthorn, from St Margaret’s and St Chad’s Church, conducted the service for the Association of Hollinwood Churches, which includes Beulah Baptist and United Reformed Church, Limeside and Millgate Methodist Churches.

A procession went to Hollinwood war memorial in the grounds of St Margaret’s where several wreaths were laid. Around 200 people attended.

A short service was held at Holy Trinity Church, Bardsley, before the congregation, joined with Keb Lane Methodist members, were led by Uppermill Brass Band in a parade to Bardsley war memorial.