The 80th anniversary of VJ Day falls on 15th August, and we shall honour the memory of those who fought and died in the Far East in what is often called the ‘Forgotten War’.

British civilians also suffered greatly following the Fall of Singapore, many of them dying in refugee camps from malnutrition and disease.  They, too, deserve our remembrance.

On Monday 11th August Margie Caldicott, from St Paul’s Church in Chichester, is kindly coming to us to talk to us about the women and children, including her mother, who were interned in a camp in Palembang in Sumatra in the most squalid and brutalising conditions.  Among the other inmates was the missionary Margaret Dryburgh, who formed a ‘vocal orchestra’ to help sustain morale, and wrote the famous ‘Captives’ Hymn’ which was sung every Sunday (you can hear moving renditions of it on YouTube).

Margie has visited Sumatra and was present at the dedication of a memorial to those who died there.  Her talk will be in the Law Room at 6pm.  Wine and soft drinks will be available.