Silhouette in Ingoldmells creates space for those lost in war

A silhouette of a soldier who is '˜There But Not There' will be a permanent reminder for visitors to a church in Ingoldmells of the sacrifice made during the First World War.
The There But Not There silhouette is presented to St Peter and St Paul's Church, Ingoldmells. ANL-181115-141633001The There But Not There silhouette is presented to St Peter and St Paul's Church, Ingoldmells. ANL-181115-141633001
The There But Not There silhouette is presented to St Peter and St Paul's Church, Ingoldmells. ANL-181115-141633001

It was presented to the community at a special gathering in St Peter and St Paul’s Church on Wednesday.

John Orgine applied to the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust and was successful in being awarded a silhouette to be put on a pew, representing the space the left behind.

There But Not There silouettes placed in church pews represent the space left by loved ones who do not return from  war. ANL-181115-141618001There But Not There silouettes placed in church pews represent the space left by loved ones who do not return from  war. ANL-181115-141618001
There But Not There silouettes placed in church pews represent the space left by loved ones who do not return from war. ANL-181115-141618001

Addressing the congregation, Mr Orgine explained as part of the application he was required to organise a social event and a special lunch was held in St Peter’s Hall to raise funds for the Skegness branch of the Royal British Legion took place in Ingoldmells on Remembrance Sunday and raised more than £300.

He explained he first read about the silhouettes in April and applied for one for the church. It was on October when he heard he has been successful. “There were lots of terms and conditions - we wouldn’t be able to put it on ebay.

“We will now find a special place within the church so it can be a reminder to everyone of those we lost in the war.”

Vice-chairman of Ingoldmells Parish Council Jo Hardy thanked Mr Orgine for his efforts and the ladies of the Ingoldmells Residents’ Forum Group for the hard work they had done making poppies and decorating the church for Remembrance Sunday.

Following the official handover to the church, the vicar of the Skegness group of churches, the Rev Richard Holden, remarked on what a lovely idea ‘There But Not There’ was.

He said: “If you can see it, you can see through it - like looking at a memory from the past. What I also like is it doesn’t say any nationality.

“What we are looking at is someone who is There But Not There - every nationality on earth had that same experience. On a visit to the First World War museum in Skegness’ twin town Bad Gandersheim there is a display of a row of German helmets. One of them had a bullet hole in it where he had been shot by a British soldier and died.

“When you look at this silhouette you remember not just those in the British Army but all the young men who died and it is excellent.”