Gillingham Park Official Unveiling Ceremony
At 11am, following the Woodland Cemetery Family Commemoration Service the family were invited to a reception in the park with the Worshipful Mayor of Medway, Councillor Ted Baker and his wife Mayoress Sylvia Baker. This reception was held just prior to the public unveiling of the new memorial.
Special remembrance of Ivor Sinden
Cecil Babington (pictured by the car on display at the unveiling ceremony) was a childhood friend and next door neighbor of Ivor Sinden who died in this tragedy at the age of eleven. The last time Cecil saw his good friend was on the morning of the 11th of July 1929 when Ivor left to attend the fete that day. Sadly, Cecil would never see his friend again.
Throughout the years, Cecil never spoke of his pain and sadness of losing his friend, nor had he told his family about this tragedy. A few days before the unveiling ceremony Cecil read about the event in the local paper. Although he rarely goes out these days, he contacted his family and expressly asked them to take him along to the memorial. He only then told his family about the tragedy and his connection to it. It was important to him that he attend to remember his friend Ivor.
His Grandaughter Catherine Luck who brought him to the unveiling said "What happened that day still affected him more than 80 years on and we didn't even know. It was down to you Lori that he was able to pay his respects to Ivor and have some closure. Which means a lot to him and to us. Thank you Lori x"
Throughout the years, Cecil never spoke of his pain and sadness of losing his friend, nor had he told his family about this tragedy. A few days before the unveiling ceremony Cecil read about the event in the local paper. Although he rarely goes out these days, he contacted his family and expressly asked them to take him along to the memorial. He only then told his family about the tragedy and his connection to it. It was important to him that he attend to remember his friend Ivor.
His Grandaughter Catherine Luck who brought him to the unveiling said "What happened that day still affected him more than 80 years on and we didn't even know. It was down to you Lori that he was able to pay his respects to Ivor and have some closure. Which means a lot to him and to us. Thank you Lori x"
photographs on this page taken by John Sullivan, Ann Brooker, Kenwyn Tabrett, Lori Oschefski, Gayle Oschefski (Cheesman family), Catherine Luck, Geoff Gillon, John Ellison and Leonard Bathe (Winn family)
