Remembrance Sunday at Thornton Cenotaph.
 
The Cenotaph at Thornton
Brethren, this has been one of the hardest years in living memory for most of us. Our friends and family have been affected by a terrible pandemic which has shown no respect to its victims, and has brought the world to a standstill. As I stood at the cenotaph on Saturday, (a day early to avoid the possible crowds on Sunday, which are prohibited), I felt a real sense of empathy with the people who lost their friends and family in the World Wars. Their world was also stopped by terrible events, and the loss of their loved ones. 

The names of the fallen
Our Mark wreath securely and proudly in place
Sandra and I were honoured to place the Mark wreath for our area, accompanied by our God-daughter Laura, who is a serving Police Officer. In her short career, she has already faced great personal dangers in her job of protecting us all. She has faced down a knife-wielding gentleman, who was much bigger than her. She has driven at over 100mph on wet roads. At night. She knows the smell of a dead body. And she has faced drug-emboldened attackers. I can only imagine the bravery she has already displayed, at the age of just 28.  We are so proud of her, and we pray for her continued safety. The parents of the brave young people who went away to protect the country all those years ago must surely have felt exactly the same way, with pride and trepidation.  
It is a great honour for us to remember

One of many Mark wreaths to be placed this weekend
Giles proudly doing his duty
I usually shed a tear every year, when I take part in the Remembrance ceremony.  This year was different – only 3 of us this year, with the whole beautiful Cenotaph to ourselves. I had thought our proud Mark wreath would be the first, but some 8 others were already there. Our wreath slotted in alongside 2 other Masonic wreaths.  As I was leaving, having gone back to the car, I saw a family with three young children approaching with a wreath, and I must be honest, I did shed my usual tear….not knowing if their remembrance was for those who fell many years before their birth, or a more recent loss of someone in service in modern times around our sometimes hostile world.
Lest we forget
Brethren, stay safe and remember. 
Giles Berkley