Rev Richard Cook and the Mayor of Preston, Councillor Nicholas Pomfret addresses the memorial service

At 11.00am on Wednesday 5th November 2014 a formal remembrance service was held at the Preston Pals Memorial situated on Preston’s Railway Station.
The service was attended by the Mayor and Mayoress of Preston, Councillor Nicholas Pomfret and Mrs Barbara Pomfret, President of the Preston & District Veterans Council, Colonel Bernard Stam and chairman of the Preston Pals charity organisation, Mr Andrew Mather. The service was conducted by North West Railway Chaplain, Rev Richard Cook.

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Front row, left to right: Colonel Bernard Stam, Barbara and Nicholas Pomfret Andrew and Julie Mather

RASC RCT Standard Bearers of the Preston Branch performing their solemn duty during the service

Richard Cook opened with prayers and welcomed everyone who had assembled at the memorial. After the reading there was an act of remembrance followed by the last post and then an Exhortation to the fallen read by Colonel Bernard Stam:

“They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

From For the Fallen – Laurence Binyon, September 1914.

At this point there was a two minute silence which was broken by a Reveille followed by a reading of the Kohima Epitaph:

“When you go home, tell them of us and say, for their tomorrow we gave our today”

A wreath was then laid by the Mayor of Preston.

The Mayor of Preston, Councillor Nicholas Pomfret, lays a wreath at the foot of the Preston Pals Memorial plaque

Following a rendition of the hymn ‘Abide with me’ and closing prayers, Richard Cook conducted the blessing and the service was brought to a close by everyone taking part in singing the National Anthem.

Did you attend the Preston Pals Memorial Service?  Let us know in the comments below.