Probably the largest parade of ex-Service organisations to assemble in Castlethorpe marked two services of dedication in the village last Sunday afternoon. The Chaplain-in-Chief of the Royal Air Force, the Ven, F. W. Cocks, dedicated a new seat near to the war memorial in memory of the late Wing-Cmdr. J. R. St. John, and later dedicated the standard of the women’s section of Castlethorpe British Legion.

The parade of 180 ex-Service men and members of the Women’s Section of the British Legion marched through the village, headed by the Bradwell Silver Band, to the war memorial and garden of remembrance.

The seat bears the inscription: “To the memory of my husband, Wing-Cmdr. J. R. (Bob) St. John D.S.O., D.F.C. and Bar, RAF., and to the everlasting memory of all the fallen. ‘They served mankind. Themselves they scorned to save.’”

The surpliced choir with the Vicar the Rev. D. Wingate, the Rev. H. P. Fuller, Rector of Ashton and Hartwell and a former RAF chaplain, and the Chaplain-in-Chief, met the parade at the memorial. Also present were Wing-Cmdr. St. John’s widow, Mrs. Pat St. John, J.P., and their children Miss J. St. John and Master Ian St. John, as well as Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Whiting, father-in-law and mother-in-law. Mr. Whiting is president of the village branch of the British Legion.

Others present included: Sqdn-Ldr. W. Bax and Mrs. Bax, Mr. and Mrs. W. S. St. John, Mr. and Mrs. Cannon, Mrs. J. J. McKay and Mr. David McKay (representing Group-Capt. J. J. McKay D.S.O., D.F.C.), Mr. and Mrs. Durbridge, Mrs. G. Whiting and Mr. P. Whiting (representing Mr. and Mrs. M. Whiting), Mrs. H. Roberts, Insp. G. Jones and Mrs. Jones, Dr. and Mrs. E. D. Lawrence, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Mr. W. Ginger, Mr. and Mrs. T. Bradley, Mr. and Mrs. F. Whiting (representing Mrs. Molly Whiting), Mrs. C.C.S. Gibbs (representing Mr. Gibbs), Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Arman, Mr. Walter Beesley, Miss C. Bull.

Unable to be present were Air-Commodore Brotherhood and Mrs. Brotherhood, Mr. J. Smith (Potterspury), and Mrs. D. Wingate, who had sustained an injury.

The seat was designed by Mr. Arthur Harris, of Church Brampton, the Northamptonshire County Architect, and was made by local craftsmen – the woodwork being by Messrs. A. E. and S. H. Chapman of Old Stratford, and the wrought-iron work by Mr. J. Smith of Potterspury.

Following the dedication of the seat by the Ven. F. W. Cocks, wreaths were laid on the war memorial by Mr. J. Bavington chairman of the British Legion branch, and Mrs. J. E. Whiting, president of the women’s section.

British Legion branches represented together with their standards were: North Bucks No.1 Group, Castlethorpe, Hanslope, Wavendon, New Bradwell, Olney, Stony Stratford, Cosgrove, Haversham and Little Linford, Lavendon, Sherington, Newport Pagnell, Emberton, Shenley and Loughton. The standard of the Wolverton branch of the Royal Air Forces Association was also carried.

Women’s sections represented were: Bucks County branch, Hanslope, New Bradwell, Stony Stratford, Lavendon, Wolverton, Stoke Goldington, Ravenstone and Gayhurst, Woburn Sands Sherington, Shenleys and Loughton, Newport Pagnell, and Olney.

The new standard of the Castlethorpe Women’s Section was carried by Mrs. Mary Keeves, with Mrs. N. West and Mrs. A. Cowley as escorts.

The parade marshal was Mr. S. C. Swain.

The small church of SS. Simon and Jude was crowded for the dedication service of the standard, which was conducted by the Vicar, assisted by the Rev. H. P. Fuller. Mrs. G. Cook was organist.

The Ven. F. W. Cocks dedicated the standard and also gave the address, relating the question of service to the story of the Good Samaritan. Too often, he said, there was an awful temptation, particularly in these days of the Welfare State, to cut aside responsibility and to say “Why don’t they do it?” “They” could be the Government, the Conservative or Labour Party, the Council, or anything else, but people tended to put responsibility away from themselves.

On this matter of responsibility, he had been delighted to hear that the Castlethorpe British Legion had undertaken to keep in order the area near the memorial. But not only was personal service needed, but also thorough service, he said. There was always the terrible danger of starting something full of enthusiasm and somehow getting distracted on the way.

The third part of service was that given personally, and they needed no reminder of what the cost could be. Many of them would be remembering comrades who had paid the greatest sacrifice. In this connexion, they remembered their old friend Bob St. John, whose death had taken place in tragic and distressing circumstances but who, in his view was a war casualty none the less.

“Who can tell that the reserves of courage and endurance that so many of these men had to conjure up take their toll in years later?” he said.

The offertory of £16 was divided between the RAF Benevolent Fund, British Legion funds, and the church funds.