Together we remember them.
Wreath laying with Surrey’s Lord Lieutenant at the Muslim Peace Garden in Woking to remember the 450,000 Muslims who lost their lives fighting for Great Britain.
Video and photos by Andy Newbold
Virtual Remembrance to remember Surreys’ War Heroes
The High Sheriff of Surrey, Shahid Azeem, was amongst the dignitaries that laid a wreath in Jubilee Square, Woking, during a closed ceremony due to the second lockdown of 2020. Woking Borough Council kindly supplied LIVE footage which was aired on the High Sheriff’s social media pages allowing the citizens of Surrey to share in the ceremony as it happened. Another challenge overcome during the coronavirus pandemic in a year that has minimised activity for the High Sheriff who would normally attend many public events and visits. Together we remembered them.
Together We Are Stronger!
I was asked for help by the Aldershot Muslim community group, who had been praying regularly on Friday at centre in St Georges Road, after the facility was no longer available after decades of use. I then spoke to the leader of Rushmoor Borough Council Cllr David Clifford and he immediately agreed to allow the Muslim congregation to use the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Aldershot with full access including parking for the Muslim congregation until new facilities can be found.
I am so grateful for the help of David and Bishop Daniel Grant for their tremendous support and Bishop Daniel Grant commented “As the Bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Aldershot, I am so pleased to be able to share our chapel with on Friday afternoons with the local Muslim congregation who need a temporary place to worship and pray. This has been such a positive experience for all and a true example of inter-faith”.
Liaqat Hussain organiser of the Aldershot Muslim congregation, commented; “We are so grateful to Bishop Daniel and Cllr David Clifford for bending over backwards to accommodate us and make us most welcome. This is great way to demonstrate the multi-faith groups working together in harmony”. Together we are Stronger!
I also ‘virtually’ attended the Surrey Muslim Association AGM marking their 5th Anniversary. It was heartening to learn how all faiths group worked during Covids-19 supporting the most vulnerable, dealing and supporting with mental health issues. The Surrey Muslim Association is a great platform for inter-faith work and during these challenging times we need all faiths working together for the betterment of the community and vitally learning and supporting one another.
Volunteering to lend support for immunisation
Today the Lord Lieutenant of Surrey, Michael More-Molyneux with Shahid Azeem DL current High sheriff and High sheriff in nomination Julie Llewelyn, volunteered at Shah Jahan Mosque to support the mosque committee with NHS and local GPs to lend support in the immunisation if the Covid-19 vaccinations.
The Shah Jahan Mosque opens every Sunday for four hours to vaccinate over 60 individuals who are eligible for the vaccine. Shahid Azeem DL was also vaccinated as he is in the eligible group.
A huge thank you goes to the Shah Jahan Mosque, the Chairman, the Imam and volunteers, and a particular thank you to NHS staff including Professor Aftab Ala, Dr Mohammed Munira & Dr Paul Van Den Bosch for their valuable time to ensure we are all protected.
Summer at Breinton
On Saturday afternoon, I spent the afternoon in Woking at the house of Lionel and Kumi Smith-Gordon for the last recital of the Summer at Breinton series: Seemingly Unlikely. Saxophonist Huw Wiggin and harpist Oliver Wass showed their love of the repertoire for this “unprecedented” combination of instruments, including works by Bach, Rachmaninov and Gershwin.
Prior to the main event, violin sister-act Coco & Yume Tomita performed a varied solo and duo programme. Coco is the Strings Category winner of BBC Young Musician of the Year 2020. Yume at the ae of 12 showed so much talent and composure in front of a sell-out crowd in social distance settings in the gardens, both sisters are studying at the Yeudi Menuhin school.
Yume Tomita playing variations of ‘Amazing Grace’, had my hairs back of my neck standing and Huw and Olive playing ‘Summertime’ and ‘Someone to Watch over Me’ was truly amazing.
Thank you so much to the family for inviting an supporting the Classical music industry.
VJ75 Anniversary – Guildford.
On Sunday 16th Aug 2020, I had the honour and joy to join the Lord Lieutenant of Surrey, Michael More-Molyneux, Chairman of Surrey County Council, Tony Samuels and Col. Patrick Crowley (Rtd) DL Chief Executive of South East Reserve Forces & Cadets Association, to mark the end of WW2 in Japan – the VJ75 anniversary. I read the following poem at the services, which reflects where we as a society.
A POEM OF HOPE
And the people stayed home.and read books, and listened,and rested, and exercised,and made art, and played games,and learned new ways of being, and were still.and listened more deeply.
Some meditated, some prayed,some danced, some met their shadows.
And the people began to think differently. And the people healed.And, in the absence of people living in ignorant, dangerous, mindless, and heartless ways, the earth began to heal.And when the danger passed, and the people joined together again, they grieved their losses, and made new choices, and dreamed new images, and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully, as they had been healed.
A huge thank you to the Dean of Guildford Cathedral, the recording of the music – prepared by Choir of St Paul’s Church in Canterbury, along with live music by Organist Richard Moore and the clergy.It was our duty to pay our respect to the Fallen and the contribution made by the Surrey battalions, many lives lost for our Peace. We will Remember Them.
Eid Ul Adha Celebrations in Woking.
This morning I visited and prayed with second of five congregations which are being performed at Shah Jahan Mosque in Woking.During these challenging times and observing restrictions, the mosque committee and the volunteers have been extremely well organised in controlling of the visitors.
Muslims all around the UK are to start celebrating Eid ul-Adha, the most important of Islam’s annual holidays. With approximately 4 million Muslims living in the United Kingdom, many people across the country are expected to take part in the Islamic celebrations.For my friends and colleagues and those of us who are not familiar with Islamic religious practices may be asking ourselves, what exactly is Eid ul-Adha? And how is it celebrated?The name of the holiday ‘Eid ul-Adha’ means ‘the celebration of the sacrifice’. This name refers to a tale of sacrifice mentioned in the Quran, in which God asks the Prophet Ibrahim in a dream to sacrifice his son, Ismail, as a test of his faith. Those familiar with Christianity will notice parallels between this story and that of Abraham and his son Isaac found in the bible, called the ‘binding of Isaac’. The Quaran explains that at first, Ibrahim ignored the dream, but after it had reoccurred for several nights in a row he decided to follow God’s orders to prove his faith.As he tried to decide his course of action, Muslim’s believe that the devil had tried to convince him not to kill his son.In response, Ibrahim threw rocks at him. This is considered a significant act and one that is now copied by pilgrims at Hajj who throw stones at pillars. As Ibrahim began to carry out God’s command, God swapped his son for a goat, which Ibrahim was allowed to sacrifice instead. Hence why Eid Ul Adha means “celebration of Sacrifice”.
The Imam Hashmi performed the prayers this morning and it remains me on behalf of all wish everyone Eid Ul-Adha Mubarak, peace to all and we prayer for wellbeing all mankind. #EidUlAdha #shahjahanmosque #woking
Remembering them All
I along with Lord Lieutenant Michael-More Molyneux, my Police Cadet Fin Wells, Mayor of Woking Cllr Beryl Hunwicks, Zafar Iqbal – Woking borough Community Engagement officer, and the representatives of Air Force along with Hafiz Akram, had the honour and pleasure to lay the annual wreath at the Muslim Peace Garden to recognise the contribution made by the Armed services in WW1 and WW2, in particular the Commonwealth soldiers.
The 27 Silver Birch trees that were planted at the Peace Garden represent the 27 Muslims soldiers who were buried there during World War 1 & 2. It’s vital that we should no forget all the Allied Forces who sacrificed for our today. We will remember them All.
Photos: Steve Porter
First Friday Prayers In over 100 days at Shah Jahan Mosque as life slowly returns to normal.
I had the pleasure of visiting the Shah Jahan mosque this afternoon for Friday prayers. A real poignant day for all as today was the first Friday prayer held at the mosque in over 100 days.
A huge thank you and congratulations to the mosque committee and volunteers for ensuring that all the congregation who attended complied with all the government legislation, social distancing and also registration on the track and trace system. The signage and labelling around the premises was well displayed and it was well observed by all.
Imam Hashmi delivered a great message and prayer to the entire community along with Woking people of Faith, which includes all faiths, churches, and various places of Worship.
An enormous thank you to Surrey Police and in particular, Woking PC – Tony Charles for his assistance and observation on the Friday Prayers. #shahjahalmosque #surreypolice #surreylive #surreylife #highsheriffofsurrey
