Marking the 80th anniversary of a tragic chapter in Kenilworth's recent history

The 80th anniversary of a tragic chapter in Kenilworth's recent history was marked at the weekend.

In November 1940, bombs and landmines were dropped on Kenilworth killing more than 25 people.

Local author Robin Leach, Tony Collett, Rev'd Andrew Attwood and Cllr Kate Dickson marked the occasion with town mayor Cllr Richard Dickson with a commemorative service.

Tony Collett, who now lives near Cambridge, is the grandson of Sarah Collett who was killed in Kenilworth by shrapnel on November 7.

Mr Collett said: "The reason I travelled to Kenilworth is because the Second World War had a devastating impact on my family on the night of November 7 at 7 Arthur St when my grandmother Sarah Collett [nee Huff] was killed as she stood in front of my father [her son] Fred who was on leave from the Royal Artillery.

"I’m always reminded as to how and what happened in the incident that also resulted in my father receiving life changing injuries, as he was partly shielded by his mother."

This was only the sith time that such a commemorative event had taken place and the first time that it has taken place with the plaque on the Abbey End memorial naming all the victims.

As well as laying a wreath at the memorial at Abbey End, flowers were also laid on the grave of the unidentified victims in Kenilworth cemetery.

This was a spatially-distanced event which deliberately was not publicised in advance in order to comply with Covid-19 regulations.