Veteran helps church to mark VE-Day anniversary
VETERAN Alec Penstone was the guest of honour at a special service on the Isle of Wight to mark 80 years since VE-Day.
The 100-year-old was helped to his seat in Christ Church, Sandown, ahead of the service to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. Bishop Jonathan, the Lord Lieutenant of the Isle of Wight Susie Sheldon, the island’s High Sheriff Jacqueline Gazzard, the two Isle of Wight MPs Joe Robertson and Richard Quigley were among the dignitaries who attended.
Alec joined the Royal Navy in 1943. He initially served on submarines before being drafted to HMS Campania, an escort carrier, that took part in the Arctic Convoys to Russia. On D-Day he was below decks on action stations listening for U-Boat engines, torpedoes and mines. The Campania returned to Arctic duties after a week in support of the D-Day landings.
After VE-Day he returned to the UK and married Gladys before sailing to the Far East returning in September 1946. He was married for 75 years, and proudly wears the white Arctic Convoy beret. He was on the big screen at the D-Day 80 event last year and attended the Normandy commemorations, where he met the King.
The service in Sandown is just one of many events happening across our diocese to mark VE-Day 80, which include formal services, 1940s-style street parties and social events.
The Lord-Lieutenant, Susie Sheldon, was welcomed by Alex Lightfoot, chairman of Sandown Town Council and the Rev Mark Williams, the vicar of Christ Church. The party were met by Bishop Jonathan on the steps of the church. The High Sheriff escorted Alec Penstone to his seat with the other dignitaries including the two MPs and the civic leaders.
Bishop Jonathan preached the sermon, and Cllr Frank Baldry read the Exhortation and Kohima Epitaph. The Lord Lieutenant of the Isle of Wight and the High Sheriff read from the Bible during the service. And the service also featured ‘Memories of Rifleman Harris’, with music composed by Frank Blackwell and played by the Sandown and Shanklin Military Band.
Students from the Bay CofE School in Sandown were able to make the VE-Day Proclamation, and the churchwarden Alex Weaver led the intercessions.
Meanwhile Portsmouth City Council commemorated the 80th anniversary of VE-Day with a service on Sunday 4 May at Governor’s Green, Old Portsmouth. The one-hour commemorative service included a procession of Veteran Standards, the planting of crosses and wreath-laying ceremony at sea to honour the sacrifices made during the Second World War.
Worshippers at St Simon’s Church, Southsea, hosted a VE-Day party on May 2, which included dancing, fancy dress, Coronation chicken and a 1940s singalong led by performer Nathalie Gunn. And those at St Mary’s Church, Portchester, hosted a street party within the church itself on May 5, with union flags, bunting and celebratory food.
