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Group gathers to welcome ‘torch of light and peace’ to Norfolk town
Dereham's mayor Hilary Bushell and Revd Canon Sally Theakston at the Torch of Remembrance ceremony at the town's Queen Mother's Garden. Picture: STUART ANDERSON - Credit: Archant
Different generations have welcomed a torch of remembrance to Dereham, as part of a tour of Norfolk to mark a century since the Armistice.
Katie Burton and David Taggart, the head girl and head boy from Dereham's Northgate High School, carry the torch of remembrance at a ceremony at the town's Queen Mother's Garden. Picture: STUART ANDERSON - Credit: Archant
Members of the Royal British Legion (RBL), army and air force cadets and civic leaders were among those gathered at the town's Queen Mother's Garden for the event, which took place on Thursday, October 18.
The torch, which began its progress at Cromer's Halsey House on October 15, was carried into the garden with legion standard bearers for the ceremony, which was led by Revd Canon Sally Theakston.
Hilary Bushell, Dereham's mayor, paid tribute to the torch and those who died in the First World War in a speech.
She said: 'Dereham is proud to be able to welcome are share this torch of remembrance. A torch that went into the trenches in the First World War - a glimmer of hope where none prevailed.
At the Torch of Remembrance ceremony at Dereham's Queen Mother's Garden. Picture: STUART ANDERSON - Credit: Archant
'It is not only a torch of remembrance but a torch of light and peace. Peace that so many gave their lives for over 100 years ago.'
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Prayers were read, a moment's silence was observed and the Last Post was played.
Poems were read by Katie Burton and David Taggart, the head girl and head boy from Dereham's Northgate High School, as well as army cadet Lance Corporal Harrison Grant.
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Katie and David then took the torch out of the garden to a vehicles supplied by the Ex-Military Land Rover Association, represented by Stephen Marsh, who took it onto its next stop.
At the Torch of Remembrance ceremony at Dereham's Queen Mother's Garden. Picture: STUART ANDERSON - Credit: Archant
The RBL's Hugh King said the torch, which was taken to Ypres as part of the GP90 Great Pilgrimage earlier this year, had received a positive reception wherever it went on the county-wide tour.
He said the project was one of a kind.
Mr King said: 'There are no other RBL branches doing this across the country. It's being shared from generation to generation.'
Other locations ceremonies are being held for the torch include Feltwell, Gressenhall, Wymondham and Attleborough.
The Torch of Remembrance ceremony at Dereham's Queen Mother's Garden. Picture: STUART ANDERSON - Credit: Archant
Army cadet Lance Corpral Harrison Grant read out a poem at the Torch of Remembrance ceremony at the town's Queen Mother's Garden. Picture: STUART ANDERSON - Credit: Archant
Royal British legion standard bearers and others gathered for the Torch of Remembrance ceremony at Dereham's Queen Mother's Garden. Picture: STUART ANDERSON - Credit: Archant
