Lowestoft Town Council
Lowestoft Town Council is disappointed the annual service at the war memorial on Remembrance Sunday has been suspended due to Covid-19. As we enter another period of lockdown, during which we will wish to remember all the men and women who fought to protect our country, the council and local figures have come together to create a virtual Remembrance service. With words from Councillor Alan Green, Mayor of Lowestoft, Royal British Legion Chairman, Phill Turner and poem readings from students of Ormiston Denes Academy and filming by Joshua Freemantle (‘Life of Lowestoft’), the Mayor asks, “that you observe the rules, stay safe, stay well and do all you can to protect our community the brave and selfless people of Lowestoft fought so hard to protect for you”.
We ask you to join our service which will be livestreamed on YouTube at 10:45am, accessible through Facebook or on our website on Remembrance Sunday, 8th November 2020.
We are grateful to both Royal British Legion Lowestoft & District Branch, Parade Marshall Kevin Smith, Joshua Freemantle and pupils of Ormiston Denes Academy for making the service possible. You are also invited to listen to a selection of reflective contemporary and traditional poem readings read by the students, including ‘In waters deep’, ‘Why we wear a poppy’ and ‘A tribute to the millions’, which can be found on our YouTube playlist.
We are pleased to announce that a short film, 'Lest We Forget', will also premiere on these platforms on Friday, 6th November 2020. With a poignant insight into the war graves and cross of sacrifice at Lowestoft Cemetery, considerate to the loss of life the town was subject to in both of the world wars. With moving words from Alan Green, Mayor of Lowestoft and with special thanks to Henry Baker for filming, and local historians Ivan Bunn and Bob Collis for making this film possible.
You may also wish to show your respects for the fallen by observing a two minutes’ silence at 11.00 am from your doorstep or by displaying a poppy in your window. Poppy templates are available on the Royal British Legion website.
Post Update: 12.11.2020
Thank you to all those who laid wreaths across Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day during these challenging times. In addition, thank you for the positive response and community support from our Remembrance Virtual Service, which was streamed on YouTube on Sunday.
The Town Council are hopeful to return with a full service and parade for Remembrance Sunday 2021.
The Town Council were pleased to support this event at Crown Meadow on 23 October. Below is the recount as written by local Historian Bob Collis. A fitting story as we enter look to Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day to commemorate the town’s effort in both World Wars and pay respects to the fallen.
There have been some pretty colourful and unusual "away teams" visiting the hallowed turf of the Crown Meadow football ground in Lowestoft over the years. However, probably the strangest sight to invade the pitch was a German bomber exhibited there 80 years ago.
The day Lowestoft Town Football Club had a German Dornier 17 bomber exhibited on the centre spot was recalled at a special event on Friday 23 October.
The event was suggested by aviation historian Bob Collis, who has spent decades researching the wartime history of the area and has a photograph showing the bomber standing on the pitch being inspected by local people.
The aircraft, a Dornier Do 17Z from the Luftwaffe unit 8/KG.76, was shot down by Spitfires over Kent on 15 September 1940, a date which used to be celebrated as Battle of Britain Day. The bullet riddled bomber crash landed at Castle Farm, Shoreham with three of the crew wounded, one fatally.
The Dornier was one of a number of shot down German aircraft taken on tour by the British authorities to boost morale, raise funds for the war effort and give people a chance to look at Hermann Goering's much-vaunted Luftwaffe at close quarters. For 6d (sixpence) towards the "Spitfire fund" local people were allowed entrance to the Crown Meadow and a close inspection of the raider. A set of steps were placed next to the aircraft and people were able to peer inside the cockpit. Several who recall visiting the unusual exhibition remember being quite horrified to see dried blood stains still extant on the gunner's seat inside.
The aircraft arrived in sections on two RAF "Queen Mary" low-loaders on 23 October 1940, during the closing weeks of the Battle of Britain and was reassembled using a small crane.
Mr Collis also read a message from Dave Brocklehurst, MBE, the Chairman of the Kent Battle of Britain Museum Trust at Hawkinge. In it Mr Brocklehurst reminded everyone that there was only one surviving Battle of Britain fighter pilot still living, Group Captain John "Paddy" Hemingway, now 101 years old. Mr Brocklehurst said "I am sure that "Paddy" would have approved, knowing that the good people of Lowestoft are holding their own commemoration today, but more importantly, remembering."
"I am very grateful to Councillor Alan Green, Mayor of Lowestoft, and the Directors of the club for allowing us to mark the event in this way. History and heritage events of this kind are very valuable to local communities and it is profoundly important we keep our unique local heritage in the public eye" added Mr Collis.
It is with deep regret that the Town Council will not be able to organise a service and parade this year. Please be assured this decision has not been taken lightly.
As you may be aware, the Annual Remembrance Service and Parade attracts a very large attendance and the Town Council, as the event organiser, cannot guarantee that the necessary social distancing rules can be adhered to and ensure that all risks to the public can be appropriately managed.
We will be suggesting other ways the people of Lowestoft can commemorate. Please check the Lowestoft Journal, our website and Facebook pages for updates. The war memorial is a public open space, owned by East Suffolk Council, and individual laying of wreaths may, of course, still be possible with adherence to all the current social distancing rules. These rules may change again in the next few weeks and we ask you to check all the latest information on the government website.
I sincerely hope that we will be able to join together again in 2021 in our usual way to pay our respects to the fallen of our town who gave so much.
I wish you well in these unprecedented and difficult times.
Yours sincerely,
Councillor Alan Green
Mayor of Lowestoft
Read more on Annual Remembrance Sunday Service and Parade 2020
Thank you to all who participated and observed Saturday’s commemoration of the 75th anniversary of VJ Day held in Kensington Gardens. Click here to view the service sheet.
The commemoration was led by the Mayor of Lowestoft, Councillor Alan Green, who along with Deputy Lieutenant William Kendall gave an address and planted a cherry tree. The Last Post was sounded by Gemma Eglington and the many standard were lowered for the two minute’s silence. The commemoration closed with a prayer read by Mike Bollinger of the Lowestoft Community Church.
Today the Triangle Market came to life with a wide range of stalls at the first of our new weekly Tuesday markets. The Market was formally opened by the Town Mayor, Councillor Alan Green and was well supported with numerous stalls and shoppers. Please come along next Tuesday to see for yourself.
An addition to the market area are new planters which have been supported by Darren Breeze Woodturning, East Suffolk Council and the Most Easterly Community Group. Members of the Most Easterly Community Group and Lowestoft Vision supported this first market and the Town Council extends its thanks to them.
Read more on Launch of the new weekly Tuesday markets at the Triangle Market
The Marina Theatre is asking for your help to ensure its survival. COVID-19 has had a huge impact on the Theatre and the Marina Theatre Survival Appeal has been launched to help secure the Theatre's future. If you are able to, please donate whatever you can. You can find out more details and donate here: https://www.marinatheatre.co.uk/
Read more on Suffolk Highways Upcoming Works A1117 Cotmer Road Lowestoft 12 August 2020
Discover Lowestoft, on behalf of Lowestoft Vision, is providing a new experience for families to enjoy throughout the summer - a ‘Monster Hero Safari’, a story-trail.
Launching on Monday 28 July, visitors to our town will be invited to search the streets for 10 cute and colourful MonsterHeroes. Using only smartphones, the Safari allows you to learn each of the MonsterHero’s name, story, and superpowers. Once all 10 MonsterHeroes are found, a free e-book, that tells the story of their first team-up, will be unlocked. There will be a £2 entrance fee to take part, and proceeds will go toward NHS Charities Together. Safari works by utilising contactless NFC technology and QR codes, without the need for players to download or sign up to anything, they simply need to tap or scan to play.
Over 100 Business Improvement Districts and councils across the UK are taking part in the MonsterHero Safari project, which has been sponsored by Wild in Art, with the aim of raising over £100k for NHS Charities Together. In times of great stress, this project aims to provide the local community with a memorable experience that will bring a smile to the community of Lowestoft.
Amie Mullen, Lowestoft Vision BID Manager said: “We have organised a number of summer trails in our town and we know they are loved by visitors and residents alike. Therefore we are delighted to be involved in this extra special trail this year, to help raise money for a wonderful cause.
“It’s a safe and enjoyable way for families to enjoy a day out in Lowestoft.”
Coordinating the national project is Martin Blackwell, former CEO of ATCM and the Charity Retail Association who said “When I heard about the concept it just resonated with me and I knew I had to support it. I loved the idea of heroes; the idea of a “safari on the high street”! I just thought, if something fun like this can help make families feel good about going back out onto the high street and raise money for such a worthy cause then let’s go for it.”
To learn more about the story-trail please go to www.monsterherosafari.com
Read more on MonsterHero Safari 2020 - Making Lowestoft Safe and Playful, Whilst Supporting the NHS
Suffolk Highways are planning to carry out bridge maintenance work to Mutford Lock Bridge, on A1117 Bridge Road, Lowestoft. The work is programmed to take place from 27 July and will continue for 5 nights, working between 8pm and 6am each night. A temporary overnight road closure will be required from Saltwater Way to Commodore Road roundabout during this time, to ensure the safety of their team and the travelling public.
The work will involve maintenance painting to sections of the bridge deck where the existing paint system has failed.
For the duration of the road closure, traffic will be diverted via, Victoria Road, Waveney Drive, A12, A47, Peto Way, Normanston Drive and vice versa.
If we need to make major changes to our work dates, due to bad weather or other delays beyond our control, Suffolk Highways will update the information signs on site.
A plan showing the diversion route for these works is available on their website. When they close the road and put a diversion in place, the route needs to be accessible to vehicles of all shapes and sizes. Suffolk Highways make their diversions as clear as possible by placing appropriate signing along the route. The latest updates on our works can be found on their website at"Temporary road closures for Suffolk Highways roadworks” and on One.Network website.
There may be times that essential emergency works are required to take place on the highway network without advanced notice – you can follow Suffolk Highways on Twitter for the latest emergency roadwork updates.
Suffolk Highways
