YHAgroup.org.uk

About a hundred people both locals from the village and YHA members staying at the hostel for effectively it’s last night attended a funeral service in the village high street on Saturday afternoon about 16:00.

The funeral cortege was led by John Anette and other members of COPSE carrying a coffin marked up good bye Kemsing, followed by the Rev Nigel Ashworth the Kemsing village vicar and the gathered assembly. The cortege moved around the village attended by a press photographer taking pictures.

The coffin was finally taken up to the hostel and prayers and hymns were sung in the common room and after the service a period of memories and reminicising was undertaken by all present who had fond memories of the hostel over the years.

A meal and a party was to be held later on, a time to sing and play music and then a firework party and the coffin was to ceremoniously burned to bring the Saturday event to an end.

Sunday was an opportunity to go on a walk either with June Jordan and the Kent Walk or a ramble led by Ron Smith from COPSE.

Vale Kemsing, gone for good, but will not be forgotten by the members who experienced it over the years.

Phil Manning (Croydon YHA Group)

# Posted by g1lkj 1255 days ago