The November 2018 edition of the Church Lawford and Kings Newnham Newsletter detailed the various activities planned to remember the end of the First World War 100 years earlier. These activities followed on from the Centenary Bell Ringing which had taken place over the previous four years detailed via this link. The newsletter article is reproduced below to complement the article on the War period, which can be found via this link.
The front page of this newsletter gives the details of the events on Sunday 11 November taking place in Church Lawford to mark the 100th Anniversary of the end of World War I. Everyone is welcome to some or all of the events, hopefully there is “something for everyone”, giving us all the opportunity to remember and reflect in some way during the day.
The day starts with a church service starting at 10.00 am which will be followed by the Act of Remembrance at the village War Memorial at 11.00 am.
Early afternoon sees the showing of the film “Oh, What a Lovely War!” in the village hall “. This is a satirical musical about the origin and execution of the First World War. David Attenborough’s 1969 film is based on the play by Joan Littlewood, and has a stellar cast including John Gielgud, Laurence Olivier, Vanessa Redgrave, Ralph Richardson, Maggie Smith and many more. The film is rated PG, runs for 2 hours and 20 minutes, and will start at 1.30 pm prompt. The showing is by invitation to residents of Church Lawford and King’s Newnham and their guests, and is free of charge.
Events then return to the church at 4.00 pm onwards when there is the opportunity to wander around the displays created to honour the eight men from Church Lawford and King’s Newnham who died. Each of the men will be remembered in eight window displays which will include the poppies knitted in our community. There will be de tails about these men together with information and photographs of village life at that time.
We will also have on display the Heritage and Culture Warwick shire’s travelling Exhibition of eight banners, which contain material from the First World War Collections at Warwickshire County Record Office. The topics covered are Agriculture, Commemoration, Women, the Home Front, Recruitment, the Red Cross, Life on the Front and Refugees.
There will be a Garden of Remembrance, a craft table for younger visitors to make poppies and tea and cakes will be served during the afternoon.
At 6.00 pm we will be having the Poetry and Reading Tributes. We hope this will be a poignant and fitting tribute to “Our Eight Men” by readers, who reflect the diversity of our villages today, stationed at different locations around the building.
The proceedings will conclude with the Last Post at approx 7.00 pm followed by the bells ringing half muffled as part of the “Battles Over – Ring Out for Peace”.
There will be no charge but there will be a donations box, the pro ceeds of which will be given to the Royal British Legion.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, l/l/e will remember them.
Janet Dew Church Lawford Bellringers