A service and wreath laying to commemorate the Battle of Britain took place at the Church of St Lawrence in Abbots Langley on Sunday.

The service formed part of the national Royal Air Forces Association (RAFA)Wings Appeal which will see members conduct street collections in Abbots Langley and Kings Langley this week.

The event on September 12 was supported by the Royal British Legion and hosted by the Reverend Dr Peter Waddell, udner the direction of Wing Commander Philip Buttery, who is chairman of the Langley's RAFA branch.

Guests from across the political spectrum were invited to pay their respects including Watford MP Dean Russell and South West Hertfordshire MP Gagan Mohindra.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Thank you to The Abbots and Kings Langley Branch, Royal Air Forces Association for their invitation to attend the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BattleOfBritain?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BattleOfBritain</a> Remembrance Service at the Church of St Lawrence.`The service was so poignant and gave us all a time for reflection. <a href="https://twitter.com/gaganmohindra?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@gaganmohindra</a> <a href="https://t.co/BmVnPfG56M">pic.twitter.com/BmVnPfG56M</a></p>— Dean Russell MP (@dean4watford) <a href="https://twitter.com/dean4watford/status/1437050913991139331?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The chairman of Three Rivers District Council, Keith Martin, chairman of Watford Borough Council, Bilqees Mauthoor, deputy mayor of Hertsmere, John Graham, and mayor of Dacorum Stewart Riddick also attended, along with Cllr Jon Tankard from the Hertfordshire Armed Forces Covenant Board, county councillor Terry Douris, Abbots Langley parish councillor Fran Deschampsneufs, as well as Hertfordshire Chief Constable Charlie Hall.

Watford Observer:

Members of the RAF and Air Cadets also attended, along with the Vice-Lieutenant of Hertfordshire Richard Beazley.

Mr Beazley's father was a pilot during the Battle and despite being shot down and wounded, survived action both in Britain and in the defence of Malta.

Cadet Corporal Sonali Patel of No2(F) Squadron RAF Air Cadets read High Flight - a poem written by Battle of Britain pilot Pilot Officer Gillespie Magee shortly before he was killed in action on December 11 1941. In recognition of her fortitude in front of a packed congregation, she was presented with a momento of the occasion by the Vice Lord- Lieutenant.

Watford Observer:

The Revd Dr Peter Waddell said: "The Battle of Britain Service is an opportunity not to glory in war, but to give thanks for those who gave their lives in pursuit of the freedom we now enjoy."