The Legion Remembers
Wareham Scouts Remember
Mayor lays wreath
On Sunday 9th November, nearly 90 years to the day after the end of the First World War (the 'War to end all Wars'), Wareham remembered its fallen heroes. People of the town turned out in force to watch the parade, organised by the Wareham Royal British Legion, as it made its way, led by Wareham Town Band, to the church of Lady St Mary for the annual Service of Remembrance. Not only the two World Wars but all conflicts involving British Servicemen and Women were remembered, and especially those currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan at a time when there have been many casualties.
On completion, the parade reassembled at the Quay and marched through the town en route for Wareham's main war memorial at the Church of St Martins on the Walls, including an 'eyes right' at the D-Day memorial plaque in South Street. The Mayor laid a wreath on behalf of Wareham Town Council, followed by numerous community organisations and the British Legion itself, before parading back to East Street where the parade was inspected by Marty Adams, the current Legion president.
A separate wreath laying ceremony always takes place at the town's other war memorial in Lady St Mary churchyard, again led by the Royal British Legion, and this took place with all due ceremony after the parade was disassembled. At the memorial, the Mayor led a prayer for the fallen and intoned those immortal words by English poet and writer Laurence Binyon from 1914:
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
Yes, Wareham will always remember them...
At the Town Council meeting of Tuesday 28th October, Mr Andy Martin, News Editor of the Bournemouth Echo attended to address councillors' concerns regarding a perceived lack of press coverage in the Wareham area for local news stories, following a motion at the September Council meeting. He reported on the changing role of newspapers in modern society, the increasing use and influence of the internet which had to be constantly updated with breaking news stories, and the apparent reluctance of younger people aged 15 - 24 to read newspapers. Together with a general trend towards less advertising, this had led to a significant drop in newspaper sales generally and reporter job losses/office closures e.g. the Echo office in Wimborne, were the result.
Councillors drew attention to the lack of articles regarding Wareham when there was plenty going on in the town, that there should be an equal coverage of news with Swanage which appeared to get the lions' share of features in the Swanage and Wareham Advertiser and that the letters content was much smaller and it rarely reflected Wareham issues, although people did write in regularly.
Mr. Martin responded that the role of newspapers was not dictated by those who paid for advertising and his job was to treat news on its merits. It was, however, part of his team's role to support activities and community initiatives etc and he had issued instructions to try and reflect more news from Wareham. Efforts were being made to try and make the best use of space available but advertising reflected current economic conditions. The Advertiser had shrunk to half its size compared to two years ago, giving considerably less space for news and letters from local people. This had also had a knock on effect with the Echo, whose Purbeck page was now down to three issues per week accordingly. The role of web-based news was becoming increasingly important and constant updating was now a normal activity to reflect a demand for up to the minute news. Mr Martin looked forward to an improvement in the future, which was echoed by councillors, and stated that he was willing to attend Council in 12 months' time if Members thought it necessary. He was thanked for his attendance by the Mayor.
Christmas Parking in Wareham
The Wareham Chamber of Trade has agreed dates for free parking in Town, District and County Council car parks in Wareham over the Christmas shopping period as follows: All day on Friday 19th December, Monday 22nd December, Tuesday 23rd December and Wednesday 24th December. Support your town and shop in Wareham!
The Mayor, Councillors and staff of Wareham Town Council wish you a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year in 2009.
