Wimbledon’s annual memorial to mark Hiroshima

The Wimbledon Disarmament Coalition/CND held its usual Hiroshima memorial ceremony at Rushmere Pond, Wimbledon Common on Tuesday.

August 6 marked the 79th anniversary of the atom bomb being dropped on the Japanese city.

At the gathering, Alison Judge, the vicar of Christ Church, Colliers Wood, spoke of the suffering and devastation caused by the first bomb and the need to ensure there is no repetition.

And Alison Williams, of Merton United Nations Association and Wimbledon Disarmament Coalition/CND, said: “The UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres has said that for more than 50 years, the Arms Control Association has gathered experts and leaders around an issue of monumental importance: ending the madness of nuclear weapons.

“Humanity is on a knife edge and we need to disarm now. Another world is possible.”

The group sang songs familiar to the peace movement – Where have all the Flowers Gone?, Blowing in the Wind and others, accompanied on guitar and harmonica by David Carrier and guitarist, Karl Schneider.

This year, the origami boats prepared before the ceremony under Gill McCall’s instruction, floated tea lights with batteries as candles are no longer permitted.

Pictured top: Seven-year-old Matthew Tang floating his origami boat (Picture: Auriel Glanville)