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Howard's Way.... a weekly column from the Rt. Hon. Michael Howard QC. MP. 

13 November 2008

Last Sunday was Remembrance Sunday with a difference. I take it in turns to attend the services in Folkestone, Hythe, New Romney and Lydd. This year was New Romney’s turn but because of the refurbishment work being carried out at St Nicholas’s Church, the service was held at St George’s, Ivychurch.

The church was packed and the service was as moving as ever. Particular poignancy was added this year by the death in action in Afghanistan just a few days earlier, of Rifleman Yubraj Rai, a Gurkha stationed at Shorncliffe.

This sad event brought home to all of us, if we needed any reminding, that we do not only commemorate those who made the supreme sacrifice for us in the two World Wars but also the many who have died since, some in the conflicts which are still underway.

Earlier in the week I had attended a very wonderful event in the Palace of Westminster.

Allison Stevens, a pupil at South Kent College in Folkestone, has undertaken a detailed survey of fireplaces and fireplace furniture in the Palace. She has produced an outstanding piece of work which she presented to the Palace authorities, particularly those responsible for the state of the building. I was privileged to have been asked along and we were all enormously impressed by Allison’s work.

So warm congratulations to her and to Barry Woolnough and Barry Feldman, her tutors at the College. They can all be very proud of her achievements.

I have not been present at any other event of this kind before. What Allison achieved is a model of what can be done through determination, perseverance and sheer hard work – a lesson for us all!