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.