Memorial Service at Upottery Airfield Smeatharpe

8th June 2008

On Sunday the 8th of June 2008 at 12:15am  representatives of the Upottery and Churchstanton Royal British Legion along with members of the Trust gathered at the old sentry box airfield memorial at Moonhayes Cross.

On parade was a bugler from the Old Comrades Association of the Devon and Dorset Regiment the proceedings were kindly over seen by the Rev John Woollam after his normal Sunday morning service at the Newhouse Chapel that had been attended by members of the Trust.

It was fantastic to see that tributes had been already laid, among them an outstanding floral arrangement from members of a Living History Re-enactment Group.

The service was conducted in the traditional manner and was enhanced by the presence of two of the sixty-eight school children from the Upottery Primary School who were involved in the dedication of the Memorial Plaque  on June 6th 2005.  They laid a poppy wreath on behalf of all who attended

The children were Harvey Arscott and Natalie Sampson who having completed their education at Upottery Primary now attend the Honiton Community College.

Both of them are from families who have lived in the area for many years, they carried out their duty with dignity, Natalie who is a member of the St Johns Ambulance Brigade was attired in her uniform for the occasion, The British Legion and members of the Trust are most grateful to them and all those who attended including the two motorist who voluntarily stopped for the two minutes silence during this annual event.