Words: Frances Barker. Photos: Ian Palliser
“We are gathered here in this place of stillness and calm…”
These were the opening words from this morning’s Armistice Day Service at Farsley Rehoboth, the sixth service since the charity purchased this beautiful and historic site out of the bankruptcy of a house builder.
Today’s service featured the first Baptist Pastor (Ann Hayward) officiating in many decades at the Rehoboth. Also participating was the King’s representative, Dr Kuldip Kaur Bharj OBE, Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire.
The service benefited from a youthful input with the presence of Valley View Community Primary School Choir, (the school is just over the brow of the hill) behind the Rehoboth.
Also attending were young neighbours from West SILC and All Stars Nursery. Many thanks to the volunteers, established and new, who attended, participated and helped the organisation of the service.
Bugler, Darren Walker BEM played The Last Post and Reveille and in a surprise move the day before the service donated a full (top quality and loud) sound system with mixing desk – to quote one regular “it’s taken five years to get the sound right, but it was worth it.” Thank you Darren.
Another difference this year was that we have an additional official war grave, that of 19 year old Joseph Shepherd, who died aged 19 on 14th January 1940. The grave was discovered earlier this year.
As is now a Rehoboth tradition, a candle was lit and placed in a lantern on the Official War Grave of 18 year old Australian Artilleryman, Arthur Hainsworth Wade, which is also the location for the many wreaths that were laid.
The final act of the service is reading the roll call of the 24 men either buried in the Rehoboth’s War Graves or whose names are inscribed on family graves – the locations of where they died span the world. You could have heard a pin drop as the names, unit of Service and place of death were read to to the packed crowd of attendees.
Rehoboth will pay tribute again next 11th November and continue to ensure the histories of the fallen are told to our visitors throughout the year. Thank you for your support.
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