Poignant service marks centenary of war memorial at Ford church

A Service of Remembrance at Ford church on Sunday took on a special significance not only because it was held outdoors and under Covid-19 guidelines.
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The short gathering celebrated the centenary of the unveiling of the beautiful war memorial within St Michael & All Angels church that records the names of 19 men of the parish who did not return from the First World War.

Today the memorials continue to provide an important focus for the grief felt at the colossal losses of both world wars and other conflicts since 1945.

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Initially this year’s service was cancelled, but given the significance of the memorial’s centenary it was decided by the churchwardens that a smaller and different ceremony should go ahead.

The short gathering celebrated the centenary of the unveiling of the beautiful war memorial within St Michael & All Angels church that records the names of 19 men of the parish who did not return from the First World War.The short gathering celebrated the centenary of the unveiling of the beautiful war memorial within St Michael & All Angels church that records the names of 19 men of the parish who did not return from the First World War.
The short gathering celebrated the centenary of the unveiling of the beautiful war memorial within St Michael & All Angels church that records the names of 19 men of the parish who did not return from the First World War.

The unique Ford memorial was unveiled in August 1920 by James, 1st Baron Joicey, who bought the Ford estate in 1907 and lived in Ford Castle.

One of Lord Joicey’s sons, Sydney James Drever Joicey, captain and adjutant of 10th Northumberland Fusiliers, is the first name on the list of the dead. He was killed in action near Calonne, France on March 20, 1916, aged 31.

Eleven names are listed on the adjacent sandstone tablet that remembers the Ford dead of the Second World War, including Lieutenant David Hugh Joicey of the Coldstream Guards, elder son of Hugh, 3rd Baron Joicey. He died of wounds at Salerno, Italy on September 25, 1943, aged 21.

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In a short address at Sunday’s service, Andrew Joicey, great-grandson of the first Lord Joicey of 100 years ago, said: “When you study the names on the Ford memorials you cannot help but notice that many are familiar names to all of us living round here because in many cases their descendants still live and work in the area.”

The First World War memorial at Ford church.The First World War memorial at Ford church.
The First World War memorial at Ford church.

Andrew, president of the North Northumberland branch of the Royal British Legion, and his niece, Hannah, daughter of the current Lord Joicey, laid poppy wreaths.

He remarked: “I can’t help but wonder what the people present at the unveiling ceremony in 1920 might have thought if they knew 100 years later congregations throughout the country would be barred from entering church and barred from singing hymns in church on the grounds that such activities could create an ‘unacceptable level of risk’. We are certainly living in strange times again.”

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