The lamps are going out all over Europe, we shall not see them lit again in our life-time"
Sir Edward Grey August 1914
Kevin is backing a campaign marking the centenary of the Great War today by asking local residents across the bay to turn their lights off between 10pm and 11pm tonight.
This form of commemoration has been suggested by the Royal British Legion, who are running a ‘Light Out’ campaign to encourage people to turn out their lights for an hour this evening. The symbolic downing of the lights reflects Foreign Secretary’s Sir Edward Grey’s famous remark on the outbreak of war.
Commenting Kevin said:
‘‘Sir Edward’s comment on the eve of the Great War is a deeply moving evocation of that terrible conflict, and the darkness and despair it brought to so many families.
‘I will be joining the event being held at the War Memorial in the churchyard of St Mary the Virgin in St Marychurch at 10pm tonight, to mark this moment in history. I would encourage those not able to get to an event this evening to take part by turning their lights off at home. Many men from the bay who volunteered to fight never returned and this evening their sacrifice should be remembered."
Further information on the Royal British Legion campaign can be found here