WAR VETERANS' PLEA TO COUNCIL LEADER

War veterans have appealed to borough council leader Jeremy Birch to make an appearance at the Alexandra Park ceremony after accusations that he 'snubbed' the town's tributes to the D-Day landings.

The leader of the council's ruling Labour group caused a furore in June when he elected not to attend a special 60th-anniversary ceremony remembering those involved in the Allied invasion of Europe in 1944.

Cllr Birch and his deputy Jay Kramer were forced to weather a storm of criticism from ex-servicemen and women who interpreted their absence as a personal insult.

One described the no-show as 'revolting'.

Cllr Birch defended himself by saying the mayor attended and was the official representative of the whole council.

Other members of the cabinet who failed to attend those commemorations are also being urged to go along on Sunday.

Rodney Pelling, chairman of Hastings Royal British Legion, said: "I think it is important to remember the chaps who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom and I think the people we have elected should be there."

Stewart Green, chairman of the Joint Council of Ex-Service Associations, and John Longfield, a Light Infantryman in the Second World War, have added their voices to the call.

The Remembrance Sunday service will be held at the war memorial in Alexandra Park on November 14, followed by an evening show at the White Rock.

Cllr Birch remained tight-lipped about whether he would attend the service when contacted by the Observer this week.

"It is a civic ceremony at which the council is represented by the mayor," he said.

"For any other councillor it is a personal matter how they mark Remembrance Sunday."

Cllr Kramer was unavailable for comment.

So far, 14 of the town's 32 councillors have confirmed they will attend the ceremony.

The Joint Council of Ex-Service Associations assists the mayor in planning the service and organises the evening show.

Chairman Stewart Green said: "Mr Birch lets us down every year and he has said he won't be at the White Rock again this year."

Normandy veteran John Longfield, of The Heights, added: "I would expect our locally elected councillors to attend this important civic ceremony.

"If the leader does not attend it will reflect very badly on him.

"When councillors take up their positions, I believe it becomes one of their responsibilities to go to the local Remembrance service.

"If they choose not to go, what sort of people are they?"

The councillors who have confirmed they will attend are: Eve Martin, Vivienne Bond, Terry Soan, Godfrey Daniel, Richard Stevens, Michael Lambrechs, Dominic Sabetian, Paul Smith, Richard Vallery, Keith Bing, Matthew Lock, Robert Cooke, Anne Bird and mayor Pam Brown.

Deputy mayor Maureen Charlesworth has offered early apologies for absence along with councillors Peter Pragnell and Joy Waite.

p To help with the Poppy Appeal or to make a donation, call 445600 or pop in to the Royal British Legion office at Bank Buildings in the town centre.