Remembrance Day Services 2014

Two momentous days of Remembrance organised by the Friends of Darwen Cemetery.

On Friday over 12 schools both Junior and High Schools with various VIP’s laid wreath at the Cross of Sacrifice and then the groups of students and children laid crosses on every war graves in both Western and Eastern Cemeteries.

Two newly composed war poems were read by winners of the FODC poetry completion and we thanks Megan Charnock from Darwen Vale High School and Simarpreet Kang from Ashleigh Primary School.

D Day veteran Richard Westhead laid the FODC wreath and other VIP including the Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen, The Mayor of Darwen, Royal British Legion representatives and our own MP Jake Berry and the President of FODC  Col. Steve Davies.

Although the service was dry, shortly after the students went into the Cemetery with the Poppies we had a downpour and we thank everyone for seeing this through and all crosses were laid with dignity and respect.

Rev. Terry Young again led our service of remembrance and the occasion was extremely well attended.

John East FODC Chairman said, “We thank everyone for the work at the cemetery both volunteers and Blackburn with Darwen staff – but especially for the young people who attended and honoured the 102 war graves in Darwen Cemetery. Lots of restoration work has take place and now all the war graves have been adopted and just today a new one has been added.”

The Sunday service followed the same pattern with members of local Scouts Groups attending and several local residents and guests.

Wreaths were laid and the weather was much kinder. Rev. Terry Young and Tony Foster led the occasion and closed the remembrance events – commemorating  the start of WW1 – 100 years ago.

The Friends will be holding some Heritage walks in  2015 and the continuing restoration of the cemetery will continue.

FODC November 2014