Honoring Torbay’s Fallen Heroes on Land and Sea
Remembrance Sunday in Torbay and South Devon marked a solemn occasion dedicated to honoring the fallen heroes, both on land and at sea. Local communities came together to pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
Community Tributes in Brixham
In Brixham, volunteers from the Torbay RNLI took part in the Remembrance Sunday events. The lifeboat crew joined a poignant Service of Remembrance at the Brixham War Memorial, followed by a parade through the town.
Service at Sea
Crew members also participated in a memorial service at sea off Elberry Cove. During the service, Helen Lovell-Smith from the Fishermen’s Mission delivered a reading. Following this, flowers were swept into the water from the RNLI All-Weather Lifeboat as a symbolic gesture of remembrance.
Remembrance Parade Activities
- The Remembrance Parade gathered at the Man and Boy Statue located on Kings Quay.
- Participants then marched to Berry Head Road for the main service.
- At 11 am, attendees observed a two-minute silence.
- A wreath-laying ceremony followed, honoring the memory of the fallen.
Among those present were Councillor Hazel Foster, the Deputy Mayor of Torbay, and her consort, Kevin Foster, who is also the president of the Paignton Royal British Legion.
Remembering in Dartmouth
The Dart RNLI also played a significant role in the Remembrance Sunday observances in Dartmouth. Helm Rich Eggleton laid a wreath on behalf of the Dart lifeboat family during the ceremony at Royal Avenue Gardens.
International Gesture of Remembrance
A convoy from Brixham, part of a mercy mission to Ukraine, laid a wreath in Poland. Volunteer Jonathan Parr, who led the mission, placed the wreath at the site where Polish army officers were executed under Stalin’s orders. Furthermore, a wreath and an ambulance filled with medical supplies were sent to Sumy, Ukraine, from Brixham.
Participation of Emergency Services
Emergency services were prominently represented at all ceremonies, emphasizing the collective effort to honor the sacrifices made by individuals in service to their communities and country.
