VETERANS LUNCH

    

The annual Veterans Lunch was hosted by Town Mayor, Cllr Jocelyn Towns. Thirty Six Veterans and their guests were welcomed by the Mayor at Court Garden House. The proceedings commenced with a glass of sherry in the Seymour Room and catching up with old friends as they arrived.

The elegant Higginson Room was the setting for the two course lunch of Braised Beef with mushrooms in a Red Wine Sauce followed by a traditional treacle sponge pudding which was well received by everyone!

Before the coffee and mints were served, Group Captain Mark Heffron gave the Loyal Toast to Her Majesty the Queen. This was followed by Town Mayor, Cllr Jocelyn Towns making a toast to her guests. As part of her speech she read a poignant poem. She read out the names of Veterans who had passed away during the last year, Mr Basil DiMascio, Mr Peter See, Mr Peter White, Mr Harold Ennis, Mr J Campbell, who was President of the Marlow Branch, Royal British Legion and Mr Brian Simmons, Secretary of the Marlow Branch Royal British Legion until recently. Mrs Mary Simmons, Brian’s widow was attending the lunch and the Mayor extended her condolences to her. Councillors were asked to be upstanding to toast their guests. Mrs Stephanie Thieyre from Marly-le-Roi also spoke about the sacrifices made in the two wars. The Reply on Behalf of Guests was made by June Coleridge who until last year was a Town Councillor. Mrs Coleridge gave the assembled guests some insight into how she and many other Wrens were recruited as Code Breakers at Bletchley Park.

Pictures taken by Marlow Camera Club are in the gallery.  Please click here to view

REMEMBRANCE SERVICE & PARADE

The sun was shining on Sunday 13th November when the Royal British Legion and Marlow Town Council held the Remembrance Service & Parade at the War Memorial on the Causeway.

A staggering amount of people attended the service not only those who were taking part, but members of the public. An estimate of over 4,000 people has been put forward.

Lt Col Shaun Murphy has had a very difficult few months trying to pick up the arrangements for this event after the sad death of Jim Campbell, former President of the Marlow Branch of Royal British Legion. He and everyone who was involved in the Parade rose to the occasion and it all went very well.

John Bustin of All Saints Church, Marlow and Father Michael Turner of St Peters Church took the service. Simon Davie played the Last Post and then Reveille ending the two minute silence. A lament was played by a piper from the Scots Piped Band.

Deputy Lieutenant, Lt Col Simon Wilkinson, led the wreath laying on the Memorial by laying a wreath followed by the Town Mayor who laid a wreath on behalf of the People of Marlow and Mrs Stephanie Thieyre on behalf of the people of Marly-le-Roi. The Town Mayor, Cllr Jocelyn Towns commenced the reading the names of the Fallen from the First World War whilst the wreaths were being laid, approximately 40 in total by the Armed Forces, Cadet Forces, and veterans to name just a few. Cadets from the Air Training Corp, Sea Cadets and Army Cadets continued the reading of the names after the Mayor.

At the conclusion of the Service, Lt Col Shaun Murphy requested Permission to Dismiss from the Deputy Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire. The Deputy Lieutenant and Dignitaries were escorted to the Saluting Base in the High Street where he took the Salute from the March Past. The Parade then marched back to the British Legion Headquarters in Station Approach for much needed refreshment.
 

Pictures taken of the Parade & Service by Marlow Camera Club will be uploaded to the Gallery shortly