A FORMER Boy’s Brigade leader has written in with his memories of a Remembrance Parade.

Terry Jennings said: “I was interested in the photo showing the Remembrance Parade in 1967 being a member of the band that day. Subsequently I was an officer in the company and still connected with them.

“The band was a joint band with the Bury Boys’ Brigade and the Hargrave Boys’ Brigade. From memory we were leading the Dunkirk Veterans’ Association to St Mary’s Church as part of the Remembrance Day Parade. Some of those in the band that day were David Meacham carrying mace, Colin Ranson, “Roger Faiers, Peter Morley and Peter Manning.

I” am pretty sure the parade also included soldiers from the local barracks, a contingent from RAF Honington, the USAF, the British Legion and local cadet units

The band also led another Remembrance Parade that afternoon at Clare. This parade at Clare is an engagement the band has undertaken since 1949 and has continued to do so including this year.”

David Meacham added: “I was surprised to see myself in your Flashback photograph of the Remembrance Day Parade in November 1967.

“It was the Boys’ Brigade Band with boys from the 4th Mid Suffolk Company Bury St Edmunds attached to Garland Street Baptist Church and the 8th Mid Suffolk Company at Wickhambrook.

I was carrying the mace and leading the parade.

“We no longer take part in the Bury Remembrance Day Parade but the band is still operating and on Remembrance Day we lead parades at Ixworth in the morning and Clare in the afternoon.

Myself and Don Maygreen, one of the drummers in the photo, still take part in the band.”

Meanwhile, Barry Colson, of Stanningfield, wrote in to say: “Some weeks go you published a photo of the Lions from Bury St Edmunds. The centre person, slightly to the left with an open shirt and wearing glasses was Alan Doggitt who helped out on my father’s farm in the 1960s.

“He lived at Harrow Green, Lawshall at the time and then moved to Bury where he worked for Anglia Water.”

Memories of a Royal visit came flooding back to Chris Reynell, now of Hampshire, when he received a letter from a cousin.

He said: “My cousin in Leiston sent me a picture of Prince Charles at Walnut Tree Farm, Chediston in November 1980. I was there!

“He came to open a new anaerobic digester which was built to convert pig and cattle slurry into a natural fertiliser and biogas.

“The picture was taken in the workshop of Chediston Agri-Systems, designers and builders of pig housing. One of the last buildings they built for pig rearing had north facing double glazed windows, low dividing walls and was spacious. Sadly, too expensive for “supermarket” pig rearing.

“The digester took nearly a year to build to run at full capacity, the biogas fuelled engine provided electricity for the farm and heated the digester vessel. The slow-realease fertiliser (digested pig-slurry) was nearly odourless and the picture with the yellow irrigator shows the benefits in just a few weeks.”

A photo from the Kersey School centenary celebrations bought back memories for Alan Spraggons.

He said: “The gentleman holding the spade was my grandfather Robert Spraggons, known as Bob, and at the time he was 86-years-old.

“As a young man he was First Horseman at Common Farm, Semer, and was a farm worker all his life.

“The lady next to my grandfather in the picture was Eva Smith and they were the two oldest residents in Kersey at that time.”

Adding her thoughts, Gladys Warrern, nee Spraggons, added: “The man was my Uncle Mr Robert (Bob) Spraggons and the lady was Miss Eva Smith, a very dear friend of the Spraggons family.

“The Vicar was the Rev. Goddard and three children I recognise are Linda Orriss (now Kerridge), Chris Partridge and Michael Pryke.”

An email from Steve Sim has helped shed light on a photo from the re-opening of the Parish Rooms at Grundisburgh.

He said: “The Parish Rooms were identified as being in need of renovation in Grundisburgh’s Village Appraisal - having come top of the “biggest eyesore” category.

“The photo shows me (Steve Sim) cutting the ribbon at the opening ceremony in my then role as Chairman of Grundisburgh and Culpho Parish Council.

“Following the restoration the Parish Rooms housed the Village Doctor’s surgery and a village meeting room on the ground floor, and a local business (Michael Ashton Design) on the top floor.

“Also in the photo, Back row, left to right: Mrs Leach (far left), Mrs Pat Doggett, unknown, Martin Redstall, unknown, Clive Willetts, Peter Brunning, Rev Norman Davis (Vicar of St Mary’s, Grundisburgh).

“Middle row, left to right: Elizabeth Willetts, Phoeme Shotton, Lindsey Redstall, Margaret Lovett, Christine Sim (my wife).

“Front row (children): Andy Redstall, and my three children, Kate, David and Nicholas Sim.”

Alan and Sylvia Carter remember the opening of the new Scout Hut in Bury St Edmunds and said: “Names L to R: Peter Mayhew, not known, Stephen Boor and Leigh Carter (our son).

“Also I’d like to point-out that his wife (they married this year) also was featured on page 13 in the same edition - unknown to the EADT. What a coincidence!”

Carol Green has also shared her memories, having seen a photo of her father receiving an award.

She said: “The picture is of my father Robert (Bobby) Pottle. He was receiving a medal for long service in the coastguards.

“He lived in Hollesley all his life and died in April 2003. I have the medal in his belongings. He served in the coastguards many years.”