Splendid turnout in Sidmouth for RBL’s Garden of Remembrance service

A RECORD crowd – around 150 - turned out for Friday’s Garden of Remembrance service to ‘plant’ poppy crosses and observe two minutes silence on Armistice Day, this year on 11/11/11.

“The turnout has been absolutely splendid,” said Kim Smith, Sidmouth Royal British Legion’s president.

He said many had turned out to remember the many men and women who had given their lives “in the service of our country” while serving in Afghanistan. “They want to show their concern.”

One of those present was Raymond Perrin, 89, from Sidmouth, who remembered those killed on HMS Panther.

He said: “I was navigation officer when it sank in the Mediterranean and one of 110 rescued.”

Dorothy Coyne from Dulverton placed a cross in memory of Wilf, who had been engaged to her aunt Bessie Mitchell.

She said: “He was killed in the 1914/18 war and had just written to his fianc�e saying he was looking forward to coming home to get married.”

Her husband Rod placed a cross for his great uncle Albert Stevenson.

Rector, the Reverend Prebendary David James, conducted a short service and RBL member Richard Harding let of two maroons to mark the start and finish of the two minutes silence. The church bell then tolled 11 times.

RBL chairman, Dave O’Connor, said: “It was a fantastic turnout. It was so good to see so many people, this year in particular, take an interest in it.

“Afghanistan is the main concern at this time and for so many people to turn up today was brilliant.”