THIS year the Launcells Remembrance Sunday service was held at the chapel.

The congregation has been getting together and alternating between St Swithin’s Church and the chapel for a few years now.

Rev Neal Street led an interesting and thought provoking service.

Those attending listened to Big Ben’s chimes and all respected the two minute silence.

Fiona Hargreaves laid the poppy wreath for St Swithin’s, to join two amazing picture frames, containing handmade embroidered poppies. Val Chidley displayed a selection of family medals.

The medals belonged to her father, Ronald Pearce, who was born at Hill, Poughill, on June 30, 1913. He married Nora Gliddon of Grimscott on January 23, 1937, while in the Teritorial Army with th DCLA. He worked at Westleigh, Launcells, and received his wartime call up papers on April 10, 1940, to join the Royal Engineers and travelled on April 16. His first posting was to Iceland with no leave for 12 months. However, Valerie recounted how, when she was two, he had sent home a pair of fur mittens for her. His medals included; The Italy Star, The African Star, 1939-45 Star and one other.

Freda Hockin had also brought along some information and a portrait of her husband’s cousin Ted Hambly. Ted had served on the Destroyer HMS Jupiter commissioned in June 1939. First captain was Commander Wybural and the second, and longest serving Captain was Lord Louis Mountbatten. The ship was attached to the 5th and later the 7th destroyer flotilla. The third Captain, Commander Thew was in the post a few daus and was prisoner with Ted for all of three and a half years. HMS Jupiter was sunk by a torpedo on February 27, 1942.

The chapel was warm and friendly and decorated with lots of lovely homemade knitted poppies. Freda was unable to attend as she has not been well and the congregation sent its love to Freda, a very special lady.

After the service everyone was invited to have tea, coffee and homemade biscuits, thanks to Gill and Derek Cole.

The link forged between church and chapel is a very important one, new friends have been made and everyone is always invited to their coffee mornings, where people can relax and get to know each other.

At St Swithin’s, there was a thoughtful prayer station arranged in one of the large box pews by Annemary Davis, with pictures and information composed by her grandchildren and an all-important prayer tree, with a basket full of luggage labels, for people to write on, for loved ones lost. The twigs and large poppy sprays stood in a huge shell case, so made it all the more meaningful. Thanks were expressed to Annemary.