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Armistice 100: Several hundred people pay tribute to the fallen in Rainham Remembrance parade
Hundreds paraded from Rainham Working Men's Club, along Upminster Road, to Rainham war memorial. - Credit: Archant
Several hundred people gathered at Rainham War Memorial this morning, Sunday, November 11, to pay their tributes to the men and women who have given their lives to keep this country safe.
While Rainham’s Remembrance service is always well-attended, this year’s event was particularly poignant, falling as it did on the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War.
Men, women and children paraded from Rainham Working Men’s Club in Upminster Road to the clocktower memorial, where the Rev David Stainer, associate minister of Rainham Parish Church, led an outdoor service, supported by the Rev Joseph Ribeiro of the Methodist Church.
The parade from Rainham Working Men's Club. - Credit: Archant
Mr Stainer told the huge crowd: “We remember with shame the appalling waste of countless wars. We remember with gratitude those who died so that evil should not prevail.
“As we recall their steadfastness, courage and self-sacrifice, may we consecrate our lives to the ideal for which they died, so that wars may cease, old hatreds by forgotten and the brotherhood of mankind replace the feuding of nations.
Cllr Jeff Tucker lays a wreath at the Rainham war memorial. - Credit: Archant
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“With that encouragement and that challenge, let us seek to ensure that out of the years of sin, suffering and loss, there may arise a better society and a better world.”
Cllr Jeff Tucker, Independent Residents’ Group councillor for Rainham & Wennington, said: “This is an amazing turnout. It is a marvellous result for the community. There is no other village in London that could draw this kind of turnout for a Remembrance service.
The Rev David Stainer led a service at the memorial. - Credit: Archant
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“The world is not in a good place at this time and it is important to remember those who lost their lives in conflicts.”
There were tears in the crowd as they sang Abide With Me.
After the two minutes’ silence and the singing of the National Anthem and Jerusalem, wreaths were laid at the memorial.
Large poppies and vintage signs had been put up across the village in the run-up to the service, organised by the Lightnin’ Drama theatre group,
