Vicar’s November letter
Dear friends,
On Saturday 6th October I set off from home on my Harley at about 8.30. My initial destination was Strensham Services on the M5, just past the M50 junction. It was a bright, clear morning, but quite cold. A good day for an Autumn ride. At Strensham I met up with around a thousand other bikes who were just about to leave to ride up to the National Memorial Arboretum (NMA) near Lichfield in Staffordshire. This run was one of eight, starting at various points around the country and bringing a total of about eight to ten thousand motorcyclists to the NMA for a memorial service at the Armed Forces Memorial. This is an annual event, now in its 5th year, initially envisioned by a Harley Owner’s Group (HOG) Chapter Director and organised through HOG nationally, but open to all motorcyclists. As you can imagine, the ride and the event are very meaningful. The first event attracted widespread interest from the whole of the motorcycling community and ‘Ride to the Wall’ (RTTW) was set up as a volunteer led, stand alone organisation with the remit to organise an annual event. So far, the event has raised about £200,000 towards the running of the NMA.
The Armed Forces Memorial at the NMA is a monument to those who have lost their lives in active service since the end of the second world war. It contains around 16,000 names. That’s 16,000 armed forces personnel who have lost their lives in service since WW2! Sadly, more new names are added to the monument each year. A disturbing reminder of the cost that is paid for us to live as we do. The Armed Forces Memorial is one of about 200 memorials at the site, remembering military, civilian service personnel (police, fire, ambulance), charities, local organisations and overseas organisations. The memorials are set in 150 acres of park and woodland.
The NMA is well worth a visit and you will undoubtedly be moved in many ways at many times during a visit as you come across different memorials remembering different events and different groups. I encourage you to plan a trip there if at all possible.
November is, of course, a time when, as a nation, we remember those who have lost their lives serving their country. This year Remembrance Day, or Armistice Day, falls on a Sunday. There will be services at St Stephen’s (at 9.30) prior to the service of remembrance in the triangle at 11.00 and St Ethelbert’s (at 10.50) following an act of remembrance at the memorial in Littledean at 10.30. Please consider coming along to one of these services and one of the acts of remembrance on this special Sunday as we remember, and give thanks for, those who have given their lives to preserve our freedom and security.
Our annual All Souls Day Service is taking place at St John’sat 6.00 pm on 4th November, providing an opportunity to remember lost loved ones – the faithful departed. All are welcome to attend. If you would like a particular loved one to be remembered by name, then please contact me with details.
If you are struggling with the loss of a loved one, or with difficult memories of conflicts which have affected you, then please get in touch. I would love to talk with you and pray with you.
Yours,
