TOMMY returns to Hope

On the 11th of November 2018, the United Kingdom remembered the centennial anniversary of the end of the First World War. You may remember the wonderful display of poppies cascading from the Church Bell Tower to ground below.

David and Sue Pickering also made a generous contribution towards the 100 year anniversary, by purchasing a silhouette of a WW1 British soldier, commonly known as ‘TOMMY’.

TOMMY was placed in the churchyard, as an act of remembrance to those who gave their lives for us. Unfortunately TOMMY was soon to disappear from the churchyard, without trace, and has been missing for over 3 years.

On Friday 11th February 2022, David and Sue Pickering remembered their own very sad loss, the second anniversary that their son, Nick, died. When David visited the churchyard on this sad anniversary, where Nick is remembered, he was amazed to see that ‘TOMMY’ had been returned, and placed at the bottom of the main church steps. For David to find TOMMY on such a day is almost miraculous and certainly sent tingles down my spine when he phoned me to inform of the return.
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It is hoped that rather than hiding TOMMY away to keep him safe, David would like to have him displayed, in order to be a constant reminder of those who paid the ultimate sacrificed for our freedom, and also to show that God Moves in a Mysterious Way!

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