REMEMBRANCE Day will have added poignancy in Oxspring tomorrow.
For at the actual time of the Armistice being signed, the funeral of well-known local veteran Kevin Knox will take place.
And at the same time, Penistone military campaigner Joe Pinguey hopes to fulfil Kevin’s dying wish at the village memorial.
While observing strict Covid-19 rules, Joe plans to lay a wreath for one of Kevin’s relatives and pay his respects as the funeral procession passes through Oxspring en route to Grenoside Crematorium.
Since he started community projects ten years ago, Joe has enjoyed the support of British Legion standard bearer Kevin, who served with the 13th/18th Hussars.
“As a friend he attended all my military events,” he said.
A couple of years ago, Kevin was diagnosed with renal cancer and died in Penistone’s Buckingham Care Home last month aged 62.
“Recently, Kevin told me he wanted to lay a wreath for his relative PTE Frederick Cox of the Yorkshire/Lancashire regiment,” said Joe. Frederick was killed in 1915 and his name is on the First World War memorial in Oxspring, where Kevin lived.
Joe got the necessary permission from local vicar Fr David Hopkin and Oxspring Parish Council for an event to take place tomorrow - Armistice Day.
“The council thinks it is a fantastic thing to do,” said Joe.
“But the week before he died, Kevin told me he would not be fit enough to go ahead but asked me to carry out his wishes. I said I would be honoured.”
Then, to Joe’s surprise, it emerged that Kevin’s funeral is to be at 11am on Wednesday at St Aidan’s Church.
“So, coronavirus rules permitting, I will be carrying out Kevin’s last wishes and paying my respects on the day of the funeral,” said Joe, who hopes to be accompanied by British Legion national chairman and local resident Terry Whittles, a good friend of Kevin’s.
“I just had to share this with someone,” said Joe. “You can stand down now Kevin Knox, your duty is done.”
