STRATFORD-upon-Avon Boat Club remembered those who died in World War’s and other conflicts, including the Falklands War, as the club held services on both Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday.
The Boat Club’s remembrance started with a short wreath laying and two-minute silence to mark Armistice Day (last Friday, November 11).
Masters’ member Graham Cann laid wreaths commemorating Falklands veterans and especially his fallen colleagues in the Royal Marines.
Cann was a Colour Sergeant in the Royal Marines Commandoes during the Falklands War as the Club’s piper, Joe Moore, played before and after the two minutes silence.
Joining Cann and his Boat Club colleagues was Kim Casey, sister of Petty Officer Aircrewman Ben Casey, who was the first casualty of the Falklands War.
On Remembrance Sunday (November 13), the whole Club stopped to meet around the Club’s memorial with wreaths laid by the Club’s oldest member, Colin Upchurch, and the youngest member, Seb Happel, to remember Club members who gave their lives in wars and conflicts.
Once again, the Club’s piper, Simon Moore, played during the act of remembrance.
An addition to this year’s Remembrance Day event was the dedication of a plaque commemorating the award of the Victoria Cross to one of the Club’s members, Squadron Leader Arthur ‘Pongo’ Scarf.
The interest in this Club member’s past was generated by the sale of Arthur’s Victoria Cross and Mark Dewdney’s, the Club’s archivist and Head Adaptive Coach, research in to Pongo’s past.
Through an introduction by Spinks and Son, the auction house which sold Arthur Scarf’s Victoria
Cross, the Club was able to trace Pongo’s remaining relative, nephew John Hair, who laid a wreath to dedicate the new memorial plaque and honour Arthur’s bravery.
Paul Stanton, Stratford Boat Club’s President said: “Whilst the Club is a forward looking organisation with its sights set firmly on the future, we take this time to look back, pause and give thanks for those who served and died for their country and colleagues so that we may live in peace and pursue our sport with happiness and joy.
“Both Graham Cann’s and Arthur Scarf’s acts of service and bravery are an example to us all and an ever present reminder of the horrors of war.”
