- Cllr Susan Carey, chairman of Shepway District Council with the Reverend Canon Roger Martin
Today’s event, Sunday 15 November, is the Oakleaf Service at Centerbury Cathedral. The Oakleaf Service is a service of remembrance for those whose have lost their lives or been injured or bereaved in road crashes. This is the first time the service has been held at the cathedral but Oakleaf services have been held in the UK since 1993 and are now held worldwide.
The number of deaths and injuries from road crashes are on a downward trend in Kent, which is not something that makes headlines, but every death or injury is devastating and it’s only right that road traffic victims are commemorated. I am pleased to represent Shepway at today’s Oakleaf service with my chaplain the Reverend Canon Roger Martin.
The 'river' and the oakleaves
Canterbury Cathedral is a magnificent setting. I have been to many church services and concerts here but today is a surprisingly intimate service grouped in a circle towards the front of the nave. The service is open to all but especially the bereaved and the emergency services. I see several Kent County Councillors including chairman, John Davies, vice chairman, Bill Hayton, Deputy Leader Alex King and Mike Harrison who has done much to organise the event.
In front of the altar is a roll of blue cloth representing the river of life and during the service candles are lit along its length. I glance at Bryan Cope, chairman of the Kent Fire Authority to see if he is alarmed by the flames so near the cloth but he seems quite calm and I join with others in the congregation to add an oakleaf to the river in memory of those whose lives were lost or damaged in a crash.
The music is very lovely with anthems sung by the cathedral choir including one by John Rutter and a setting of Agnus Dei to Samuel Barber’s adagio for strings. We sing hymns and say prayers and afterwards have tea in the chapterhouse which has a beautiful stained glass window and elaborate ceiling.
The ceiling of the chapterhouse at Canterbury cathedral
Mike Harrison encourages us all to hold a service in our own districts next year on the third Sunday of November.
“As we bring yesterday’s and today’s experiences of grief and darkness, may this servce of remembrance bring healing, strength and the vision of light for our tomorrows.”
