Rob Forsyth

 

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Victory in Europe 8 May 1945

click on all pics to see enlarged images or a video 

          


                                                                     

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The event was blessed with dry, albeit cold, weather and the bonus of the noisy Market Place bin collections having being completed before the Flag raising ceremony began at 10.00. Primary School Year 6 pupils played a leading role in hoisting The Union Flag and singing of the National Anthem accompanied by members of Deddington Brass. A copy of the programme for the ceremonies can be found HERE

L to R: Canon Christopher Hall and Commander Rob Forsyth and flag hoisters Joshua Odell & Francesca Eriksen

 

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The ceremonies in the Market Place (l) and at the War Memorial (r) were attended by a very large crowd including Oxfordshire RBL Chairman, our MP, leaders of local authorities, the Fire Brigade and Primary School pupils


Pipe Major Duffy led us in procession to the War Memorial to the tune of ‘The Battles O’er’...

 


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 ...where the 13 men who died in WWII were remembered and a 2-minute silence observed

click on image for video


Following which, remembering that WWII was to continue in the Far East until the 8 August, Commander Forsyth recited The Kohima Epitaph

 

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During the laying of wreaths a lament was played. Click HERE to hear 'Flowers of the Forest' and see a video of the Royal British Legion wreath being laid by Mr Steve Kingsford, Oxfordshire RBL County Chairman with pupil Edie Keogh

And click HERE for a video of the three Armed Services wreaths being laid by Commander Rob Forsyth (Royal Navy) with pupil Sammy Davis; Major David Hood MC (Army) with pupil George Pietruszkiewicz and Pilot Officer John Pearson (RAF) with pupil Alfie Mulhall

Dedication of RBL Branch Standard

This being 100 years since the founding of the Deddington RBL Branch, Canon Hall re-dedicated our Standard adorned with its 100th pennant - see Video 

Pipe Major Duffy then led us back to the Market Place to the tune of ‘Highland Laddie’ and ‘We are sailing'

Lighting of the Parish Council Beacon

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At 9.30pm I was privileged to put the flame to a very large Bonfire with a Beacon on top at Tomwell Farm just outside Hempton  preceded by a Fanfare played by two members of Deddington Brass. It burned fiercely and was visible for miles around; so much so, and to the delight of the young scout troop attending, it  required the Fire Brigade to turn a hose on a nearby hedge

Gallery

These images and videos are published courtesy of Banbury FM, Stefan Wathan,Tony Lowe and Alan Collins. Many more can be found in the VE80 Album in our gallery