Hastings and Rother Division of SSAFA Forces Help - June 6

The service was held in the presence of the Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex, Mrs Phyllida Stewart-Roberts), the Mayor and Mayoress of Winchelsea, Anthony and Sue Moore, together with out-going Rother District Council chairman Cllr Martin Kenward and his wife Corrie.

The Corporation of Winchelsea processed from the Court Hall with maces carried by the mayor's Sea Cadet, Chris Thake.

A full congregation packed the church and were welcomed by the Rector, the Rev Canon Howard Cocks, and the chaplain to the Hastings and Rother Division of SSAFA, the Rev Robert Coates, Vicar of St Augustine's, Bexhill.

The Sussex members of SSAFA were represented by Baroness Fookes (president) and Mrs Anne Moore-Bick (chairman).

During the first hymn, Eternal Father, Strong To Save, 18 banners of service associations were carried into church and laid beside the high altar.

The chaplain gave a description of the work of the volunteers of the Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen's Families Association - particularly important at this time when our Armed Services are involved in many parts of the world.

Men and women are separated from their loved ones and then may come home with physical or mental injuries leading to further strain and financial demands on those families.

These problems were reflected too in Canon Howard's sermon and later in the prayers led by the chaplain.

A joyful musical interlude was provided by a choir from the children of St Thomas' Primary School accompanied by Marion Lovell and received by the congregation with considerable applause.

Mrs Elizabeth O'Brien (divisional organiser) and her team of helpers had put the service together and arranged refreshments afterwards (in the sunshine of the Churchyard as well as in the Court Hall with the Mayor and Corporation).

She thanked all those who had put effort into making the service a success including the Cadets of TS Rye, the clergy and the Churchwardens of St Thomas'. Miss Jean Taverner was the organist whose playing led this large congregation in powerful singing.

In Mrs O'Brien's thanks she paid particular tribute to the Mayor for his ready cooperation; she also made generous reference to the "History Day" held in Winchelsea in March and organised by past Mayor, Alan McKinna which had raised over 1,800 for SSAFA.

The final hymn, Now Thank We All Our God, confirmed the division's rededication to its valuable work in the weeks and months to come. Banners were returned to standard bearers for the National Anthem at the end of a very important service in the life of those volunteers and the host church.