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Marking the inclusion of a new name on Hethersett War Memorial are (left to right) Major John Denny, the Venerable Martin Gray, Fred Watkins, Lt Col Paul Garman, Duncan Pigg and Norman Folkard's sister Gay Payne. On the right the inscription to Norman Folkard

A new name has been added to Hethersett’s war memorial in the grounds of St Remigius Church.

Norman Folkard was a sergeant serving with the Royal Norfolk Regiment (now the Royal Anglian Regiment). He was killed on September 1^st, 1956, during the Cyprus Emergency, when a vehicle in which he was travelling left the road and went down a ravine.

Sgt Folkard was buried in a cemetery in Nicosia, but up until now his name has not been included on the Hethersett War Memorial although it has been read out at a number of Remembrance services.

Now that has changed and he has his own spot on the memorial. He was remembered on Sunday alongside those from the village who died in the two world wars. A list of those fallen was read by St Remigius Church Reader Duncan Pigg who also led the Remembrance Day service inside the church after the customary two minutes’ silence had been observed outside.

A wreath in memory of Sgt Folkard was laid by Lt Col Paul Garman who was a colleague and a fellow sergeant at the time of Norman’s death. Also in attendance for the special day was Major John Denny who was the company sergeant major in 1956.

It was a poignant day for Sgt Folkard’s sister Mrs Gay Payne who now lives at Hingham. She was just 12 when her brother was killed at the age of 22.

“I am so pleased that his name has been added to the Memorial. It is a fitting tribute,” she said. Sgt Folkard also has a brother who is currently living in Australia.

The remembrance service also co-incided with the unveiling of a memorial in Cyprus to mark the 50^th anniversary of the end of the emergency.


Photographs taken at the annual Hethersett Remembrance Service. On the right Lt Col Paul Garman lays a wreath on behalf of the Norfolk Regiment

Wreaths were also laid at the Memorial by the chairman of Hethersett Parish Council, Fred Watkins, and representatives from the Methodist Church, the Parish Church, the Roman Catholics and a number of uniformed youth groups including the Guides, Scouts, Brownies and Cubs.

Inside the church the Remembrance Day Sermon was preached by the Venerable Martin Gray, former Archdeacon of King’s Lynn. The prayers of intercession were led by Mrs Jackie Baker and the Act of Commitment was led by Mrs Vic Redington.

See this story as reported in the Norwich Evening News by clicking here.