Parks

by

Mill Pond Working Party

Volunteer clearing foliage.

Volunteer clearing foliage.

Another couple of working parties were held on Monday 8th and Sunday 14th February. The water level was helpfully low enough for the bolder volunteers to get onto the island and cut back some of the rampant vegetation. Also a very large of golf balls were recovered from the muddier areas! It is hoped that these may be recycled and perhaps some limited funds can be generated. The less bold were able to get on to more accessible areas and remove rubbish and foliage washed there in recent high flows.

We are only too aware that soon we will have to stop work on the island to allow birds to nest.

by

A ‘Lost’ Hero Commemorated.

W.K.Howell plaque & reaths.

W.K.Howell plaque & wreaths.

On Friday 4th. September family of Private William Kitchener Howell attended a brief ceremony to commemorate his death in southern Italy exactly 72 years before. They came from as far afield as Australia, as well as other parts of London to witness the unveiling of his name plaque, recently installed on the War Memorial, Martins Hill. Private Howell had earlier been missed off this list of WW2 casualties, although he was a Bromley lad. He served as a member of the West Kents, with whom he had previously fought in north Africa, but was detached to the SAS at the time he was killed in action. He is buried in the War Cemetery in Bari, southern Italy.

Deputy Mayor & family at ceremony

Deputy Mayor & family at ceremony

The Deputy Mayor, and two members of the SAS Association were also present to lay wreaths and pay their respects to this soldier, now at last properly commemorated alongside all those others from both world wars.