Fawley Heritage Event Sunday 26th June 9am-5pm

Dear Parishioners, We have been planning our Heritage event for a year now and our final programme is to be found in the parish magazine. The event was created by members from all sections of our community for the community. We planned the event over a period of a year. The planning meetings were held in The Jubilee Hall and we contacted many people in asking for help. Thank you to those who have come forward with the entertainment and displays and those who are helping on the day itself. There is much to celebrate in our community. We have a rich heritage which is of international interest. All of the events we have planned are centred around the story of the role of Fawley and the new Forest during World War 2 and the build up to D Day. To remember those days we have chosen the things that we hope will bring fun and also inform us as we share together in the event . There will be Displays in the Jubilee Hall of the things of the time to help us learn more as families. There will be displays of classic cars and engines on the village green and some simple sports and games of the time including the old Rats, Rabbit and Ravens game. There will be a commentary on the pa system where we will also help you remember the war period with public announcements of the time. The Hythe Ukele Band will play an assortment of tunes from the time in the Jubilee Hall where you can enjoy teas and cakes as you tap your feet. The Heritage display will enable you to learn more of the role of the parish during the past times. In the church there is a display of the heritage around Exxon Mobil and you can learn more of its origins and the role it played in the history of our area. This is the first time this display will have been seen by the general public and we are very grateful to Exxon Mobil for providing it for us to enjoy. The soldiers from Marchwood will parade our allied flags to the church beginning at The Jubilee Hall at 10.45 for the service of commemoration of the flags featuring the classic traditional hymns with orchestral accompaniment and the Royal British Legion tribute with bugler. The service is for all to attend and we have re the Ambassadors from the allied Embassies joining us from London who will lay wreathes. There will also be government represented in a local, district and national level in the service. It will be a unique event to bring all these elements to an act of worship together for all ages to remember long after the day. The day continues with a children’s concert where they sing songs of the times and dress as evacuees with prize giving. The day ends with the big 30s sing along with all the songs we remember from the period, and of course tea and cakes provided by the church family. On behalf of the planning group I invite you all to this day of events. Revd. Canon Stuart Holt.

There is a full programme of events running at Lepe on the day so there will be plenty for everyone to enjoy and talk about for years to come. Don’t miss out on this historic opportunity to celebrate together .

I look forward to seeing you there. Stuart .