FAIRFORD will be just one of many communities throughout the country marking the centenary of the First World War and Fairford Town Council has chosen to do this with the planting of an English Oak tree, unveiling of a plaque and the scattering of thousands of Flanders poppy seeds. The short ceremony will take place in Gasson’s Field (the field between the Mill and Coronation Street with the water tower in it) on Monday, August 4, at 5pm and everyone is invited to attend.

It may seem to some people that Gasson’s Field is too far out of town and that the oak tree will not be seen to full advantage. However, one has to remember that oak trees grow to an enormous size and there are no suitably large fields centrally in Fairford to accommodate such a tree when it is full size. In addition, there are plans to introduce a new pathway through Gasson’s Field and, each school day, children from the new developments to the north and west end of Fairford will walk past the new memorial and will see the oak tree grow and the Flanders poppies blooming each spring as a symbol of new life.

The First World War claimed the lives of over 16 million people, involved over 100 countries and impacted on the lives of everyone in our country. One hundred years later, we have all been affected by this war either through our own family history or because of the way it changed the history of our communities. This is Fairford’s way of remembering the sacrifice made by so many.

CHRIS ROBERTS

Fairford