3 minute read
Editorial
Pause for thought
Welcome to the Summer edition of the Journal. It seems incredible that we are already halfway through 2022!
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As we emerge from a global pandemic, slightly battered and bruised, we are once again facing uncertain and scary times. Not only are we in the middle of the most challenging cost of living crisis we have ever faced in recent times, but there is also a war taking place literally on our doorstep.
On 24 February, speaking in a pre-recorded television broadcast, Russian President, Vladimir Putin, authorised, what he is calling, a “special military operation” against Ukraine, claiming his aim was to eliminate what he called a serious threat and “de-nazify” the country. Shortly after, Russian troops entered the country and changed the lives of millions of people. It has all the hallmarks of Hitler like tactics, life will never be the same again.
Like many of you, I have been watching in horror as this war unfolds on a daily basis. I have been deeply affected by the images of the tragic loss of life and human suffering, listening to the horrific stories of everyday civilians suddenly finding themselves in a war zone. The school teacher that now has to learn to fire a weapon and kill another human being, or the shopkeeper that is learning how to properly administer medical care for war wounds – just ordinary people like you and me.
It has sent a wave of more than a million refugees to neighbouring countries, forcing them to leave behind their homes, their lives, and their loved ones. This, of course, is no different to other war-torn countries that we are so familiar with hearing about – Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq to name a few. However, no one thought that this could happen in Europe and somehow, perhaps because of its geography, it feels too close, and has sparked a reaction from the west, that we didn’t see to this scale, with other wars.
As I am writing this, we are also marking the 40th anniversary of the Falklands war. On 2 April 1982 the conflict began when Argentina invaded and occupied the Falkland Islands. This was a British overseas territory, and so a ten-week, undeclared war, began between the UK and Argentina.
It is reported that a total of 907 people lost their lives, 255 British, 649 Argentinean and 3 were Falkland Islanders killed by friendly fire. There were many wounded who were left to find a way to cope with the aftermath.
War not only leaves physical scars, but mental ones, and in time we will have to help those that have been affected by what they have lived through and witnessed. We already know the devastation war has on those soldiers and civilians alike, with many suffering from a range of issues which can and has, led to self-harm and suicide.
We all got to know and love the likes of Captain Sir Tom Moore during the pandemic, and now the news of the death of St Austell D-Day war hero, Harry Billinge aged 96 has been reported. Harry was one of Britain’s last surviving D-Day heroes and campaigned tirelessly for a memorial that would honour men who died on Gold Beach 1944.
Thankfully he did manage this before he died. They both are the last of this generation that fought in World War 2. It is with great sadness that this edition features several obituaries of those who worked as bereavement colleagues and friends which I wanted to give a mention to – Harvey Thomas, Jack Maher, Gordon Dixon, Ian Quance and our own author who wrote the “pulpit” for the Journal for many years, Prebendary Neil Richardson. Our thoughts go to their families and friends at this sad time.
I think it’s important to stop and pause for thought every now and again. These world events and indeed those that occur close to home, can have an effect on us all even if we don’t always realise it. Certainly, those directly affected will have to deal with their grief and loss for the rest of their lives.
So be kind, look after each other and look after yourselves.
