Carisbrooke Castle
For the first time on the Isle of Wight, a Field of Remembrance will be opened to remember people from all parts of the Island who lost their lives while serving their country.
The Field of Remembrance will be located within the grounds of Carisbrooke Castle, in the Princess Beatrice Garden, and members of the public are invited to attend between Wednesday 10 November and Monday 15 November to pay their respects.
The Royal British Legion is making crosses available for members of the public to purchase from the visitor centre at the Castle, which is open between 10am and 4pm daily, these can then be placed in the appropriate section of the Field of Remembrance. Plaques marking the different sections of the Field of Remembrance – Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and other Uniformed Services – have been produced by HMP Isle of Wight.
A short Service of Remembrance will take place at the Castle at 11am on Thursday 11th November 2010, led by the Archdeacon of the Isle of Wight, The Venerable Caroline Baston. It will include a lament played by a local piper and members of the public are invited to attend.
English Heritage is supporting the introduction of a Field of Remembrance for the Island and is providing complimentary entry to the castle for Island residents visiting to place a remembrance cross or attend the Service of Remembrance.
Although there is parking at Carisbrooke Castle, Southern Vectis is providing a free bus service for those wishing to lay crosses, it will depart daily from Newport Bus Station at 10:30am and return from the Castle one hour later at 11.30am.
Major General Martin White, Lord-Lieutenant of the Isle of Wight said: “After visiting the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey in London many times I felt it would be fitting for the Isle of Wight to have a similar place of remembrance for local people to visit and remember those from the Island who lost their lives while serving their country. The Field of Remembrance will be a place for people from all parts of the Island to remember people from all of our uniformed services.
“The Service is not in anyway intended to replace important community acts of remembrance on that day or Remembrance Sunday but rather enhance and complement the Island’s memory of those who have given the supreme sacrifice.”
Henry Barton, acting Head of Visitor Operations on the Isle of Wight for English Heritage, said: “We are delighted to support the Lord-Lieutenant in creating a Field of Remembrance on the Isle of Wight. The Princess Beatrice Garden within the walls of Carisbrooke Castle is a perfect place for peace and reflection and we look forward to welcoming Island residents who wish to pay their respects during this time.”
