When Brick Lane Music Hall moved into its current home in the former Church of St Mark’s in 2004, the War Memorial in the grounds had been allowed to fall into disrepair and was no longer accessible to the local community. As part of the refurbishment of the Church by Vincent Hayes and his team which won recognition from English Heritage with a Grade II* listing, the Memorial was also restored and was subsequently awarded its own Grade II listing.

Now the Memorial is once more the focus of Remembrance for the local community, one of five locations in the Borough of Newham. Each year a Service is held at the Memorial, with a march from the Silvertown branch of the Royal British Legion.

This year there was a record attendance at the Service which was led by the Queen’s Chaplain, the Reverend Canon Ann Easter. Taking part were artists from Brick Lane Music Hall, Andrew Robley sang and read a moving poem and Ben Goffe played the Last Post. As well as local dignitaries, representatives of the Services and Armed Forces, including local cadets, children from two local schools came to sing at the Service. After the service refreshments were served inside the theatre.