Remembrance Sunday 2016

A selection of photos taken at the School Chapel Remembrance Sunday service on 13th November 2016

Paul Hayler's brief account of the service appears below. John Why has promised a fuller version but his text is not yet to hand

OLO President John Davey, Cllr Graham Mayhew, Mayor of Lewes, OL Valerie Shrubb.

Author and journalist, David Arnold, explains about the proposed book recounting stories of 'the 55' and the narrative of the building of the Chapel

OLO Chairman Martyn Relf in full flow. Behind him to his left John Why Instigator of the event (and author of the promised account which should appear below in due course)

Sebastian Carpenter, Priory School student and our Last Post and Reveille trumpeter.

Wreaths placed in memory of the 55. From L to R: presented by OLO and laid by President John Davey / presented by Lewes Borough Council and laid by OL Cllr Graham Mayhew, Mayor of Lewes / presented by Chapel Trustees and laid by trustee David Carter

Wreaths - Close up.

John Davey, Sebastian Carpenter, Graham Mayhew, David Carter

John Davey, Sebastian Carpenter, Graham Mayhew, David Carter (again)

OLO Wreath - Close up.

LBC Wreath - Close up.

Chapel Trustees Wreath - Close up.

Memorial Tablet with Wreaths in position.

Some of the Chapel Trustees posing behind new chapel information sign.

L- R : Alan Pett, Paul Hayler, David Carter, John Davey & Martyn Relf

Brief Account of the day from Paul Hayler

Initiated by John Why (who has promised a fuller account in due course), a Remembrance Service was organised by Martyn Relf and held at the Chapel on Sunday November 13th. Considerably more than we expected were there on the day, about 50 in all, as the names of all those named on the memorials in the chapel were read. Wreaths were laid on behalf of the Old Lewesians, The Chapel Trustees and the people of Lewes. The Last Post and Reveille were sounded by a Year 9 pupil from the school to give it all another edge, and the school caretaker who opened up for us had a family relative whose name was among the 55 on the memorial. The school prayer was followed by some strong singing of Abide with Me.

This was the first time any of us can recall a Remembrance service at the Chapel on Remembrance Sunday, but it will not be the last.

Over 20 of the congregation (OLOs and partners) afterwards decamped to the Dorset Arms for a most convivial lunch, arranged by Barrie Woollard.