Lewes pays silent respect

THE centre of Lewes came to a standstill on September 14 as hundreds of people joined the Mayor, Cllr John Webber, town councillors and churchmen in observing three minutes silence.

The civic party walked in procession from the town hall to the war memorial at the top of School Hill.

People gathered on pavements around the memorial and traffic came to a standstill as a maroon was fired seconds before the Market Tower clock sounded 11am.

The Rev Christopher Channer, chaplain to the Mayor, read the following prayer: Lord of compassion and tenderness, give your help and healing to those injured in this most terrible tragedy, give peace to the dying, comfort and support to the bereaved, skill and strength to rescue workers and medical staff, guidance and wisdom to statesmen.

And above all, we pray for those who have died. We place them in your loving arms and hold them now in our thoughts in this time of silence.

A hush settled over the scene until the second maroon rose above the streets and the civic party returned in solemn procession to the town hall.