Battle of Britain day parade and service September 2011

In order to remember the huge service and effort the Royal Air Force put in during the second world war, which Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill immortalised in his words “Never before in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few”, the Rothley and District Royal British Legion organised a ‘Battle of Britain Day’ Parade and Service on September 15th alongside their village war memorial.

A good crowd which included a hundred or more pupils from the local Rothley Church of England Primary school, thought the great attraction on the day was the presence of the military Cadets from the Welbeck Defence 6th Form College at Woodhouse who paraded with arms at the slope as they formed a colour party flying their college standard. The Rothley and Mountsorrel Royal British Legion Standard Bearers were both on parade and stood on either side of the Flag staff during the ceremony, while many legion members joined the crowds.

The Colour party, under command of their officer Flight Lieutenant Trudy Askew, and supported by Flying Officer Jason Lang, marched from the Rothley Centre to the War Memorial at Cross Green where they stood to attention as Flying Officer Lang attached the Union Flag to the flag staff and raised it in full view. The Rothley Legion Chairman, Mrs Meg Hendry, then recited the Legion Homage after which all observed a one minute silence.

The Reverend Rob Gladstone from the Rothley Parish Church then introduced Flt. Lt. Trudy Askew who spoke a eulogy in which she described the battle back in 1941. She explained the huge losses on both sides and the way in which that battle was the turning point in the war, when Hitler decided to turn away from invading Britain and moved East against the Russians. The Rev. Gladstone then lead prayers to conclude the service and all retired to the Rothley Centre where refreshments were offered to all who supported the event.

All expressed the view that such events were a great way not only of paying homage to those who gave so much in the past to protect our freedom and our homeland but also by informing our future generations of past sacrifices and comradeship which eventually overcomes and wins through.

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