West Berkshire villages hold Remembrance services

Villages throughout the district held Remembrance services on Sunday.

West Berkshire villages held Remembrance services at their churches and war memorials to commemorate their dead.

The Newbury Weekly News welcomes villages to send in details of their services beforehand and any photos and information after each service going forwards.

About 50 parishioners attended the Remembrance service at Basildon from 10.50am, conducted by Jonathan Sandbach. The Roll of Honour was read by Clive Williams.

Wreaths were laid on behalf of the Shrievalty of the Royal County of Berkshire, the Parish Council, the fallen of Basildon and the Church.

Brightwalton held a small service from 10.50am, led by year 6 pupils from Brightwalton Primary School. Pupils carried out readings and poems and one student played the Last Post. Rev Miri Keen led the prayers.

The service was attended by around 15 villagers and several wreaths and crosses were laid at the war memorial. Brightwalton's War Memorial is the oldest in West Berkshire. It was built in 1916 from reused staddle stones, the base of the ancient village cross and the top of a medieval cross from a church rebuilt in the 19th century.

Midgham held Remembrance Projections at St Matthews Church on Saturday in aid of the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal. Images of falling poppies were projected across the church front, along with several image tributes for Queen Elizabeth II, including one with Paddington Bear.

The projections ran from 6-8pm, with refreshments provided including mulled wine, soup and cheese scones. All donations went towards the Royal British Legion and the church.

The field used to project from was kindly supplied by local farmer, Andrew Inwood, and the projections were supplied by EMF Technology Ltd. The event organisers thank all who attended and supported the event, including the refreshment crew, Francine and Tony Billington, Di Hibbard, Sarah Henderson, and Carol and Robert Stradling.