With Remembrance Sunday quickly approaching, and 2018 marking the centenary of the end of the First World War, many local churches have begun their annual displays to honour the servicemen and women who gave their lives for our country. And Ashington Church in West Sussex is no exception. Following in the footsteps of much of the nation, Ashington have had installed a silhouette statue of a British “Tommie” Soldier. Designed especially for the centenary by the Royal British Legion, the “Silent Soldier” installations are designed to raise money for armed forces and mental health charities, with each organisation who wants one paying to have it installed. Whilst the country falls silent to remember the 888,246 British and Commonwealth soldiers who gave their lives, Ashington will remember with pride the eleven men who gave their lives as part of the village. Ashington also plans to honour these men with an Armistice 100 Commemorative tea and talk, whilst The Ashington Parish Council and Armed Forces Covenant have jointly commissioned a research project into the lives of the eleven and a commemorative booklet detailing their unique life stories.

Many local schools have also begun partaking in observing Remembrance Day, including Steyning Grammar School, again in West Sussex. Wishing to combine their values of recycling and helping the environment with a display to mark the anniversary, it was decided that a recycled plastic display would be best to highlight the growing problem of single use plastic wastage. Students were asked to donate their used plastic bottles at specific checkpoints, rather than depositing them in a normal rubbish bin. The bottoms of the bottles were then cut off, spray painted red, and each had a hole made in it so that each student could write a message of thanks to the people who gave their lives in the war. Student Josh Payne, who helped create the display, said “The Poppy Display reflects Steyning’s positive attitude to recycling and the importance of looking after the environment whilst reflecting on the great men and women who fell during the First World War”. Organisers of the Steyning Poppy Display hope to gather some 2000 plastic bottles in order to have one for every student because everyone knows someone who was alive in the war or during the war effort, whether it be parents, grandparents, friends or just about anyone. And as we approach November 11th, it is important to unite together to give thanks for those who gave their lives so that we could be free.