FROM THE VICARAGE STUDY

My Dear People,

As with many other Churches and public buildings, our flag of the Cross of St. George has been flying at half-mast from our tower this last week of January. It was a tiny symbol of our grief at the passing of Sir Winston Churchill, parliamentarian, wartime leader and world statesman; a symbol at the same time, though, for our immense gratitude for his courage and inspiration in our darkest days. The thousands who paid their last tribute to him in Westminster Hall were in a real sense acting on our behalf. Statesmen, commentators and journalists have each in their own medium and style this past week expressed more eloquently than we could our own thoughts and feelings.

There remains only for me to place on record our own simple tribute to Sir Winston here in Hartlip this last Sunday in January - the singing of two of his favourite hymns in our parish church and the ringing of a half-muffled peal by our bellringers. But for him we might not have been free to do either nor I to have written these words without censorship or fear.

Your sincere friend and Vicar,

JOHN GREEN.