MEMBERS of the Pershore and District Branch of the Royal Naval Association and Pershore Naval Social Club gathered on Sunday to commemorate two former shipmates and witness two benches being blessed in their honour.

A touching service was held at the chapel at Pershore Cemetery to commemorate Ted Annis, founder and chairman of the Pershore RNA branch in 2002 where he was also chairman from the inaugural meeting until his death on November 10 2014.

He also set up Pershore Naval Social Club where he worked behind the bar every weekend with his wife, Margaret.

Mr Annis' death was closely followed by popular Pershore man Eddie Bick who was also a loyal and dedicated member of both the branch and the club.

Family and friends of Mr Annis and Mr Bick attended the service and were welcomed into the chapel by Councillor Chris Parsons who represented Pershore Town Council and spoke of the memories he had of Mr Annis whilst they served together on the council. He paid tribute to all that Mr Annis had achieved during his lifetime and said that the strong branch was part of his legacy in the town, as is the Commemorative Garden in the Abbey Park which was built through Mr Annis' sheer determination. This was followed by prayers led by RNA Chaplain Canon Richard Etheridge before the congregation went outside to watch the benches be formally blessed and dedicated in the glorious sunshine.

Terry Brimmell, who took over the role of branch chairman, gave a vote of thanks on behalf of the branch to Pershore Town Council and thanked them for all the help and support they had given in organising the commemorations. He spoke of his delight at all the recent renovations done to the 19th Century Chapel which he described as "a great asset to Pershore". He went on to thank Richard for conducting the service and all those who had given up their time on a Bank holiday weekend to attend.

Close friend of Eddie Bick, Alan Hitchman, also gave a vote of thanks to everybody and paid tribute to his friend, describing him as "one of the kindest people I've ever me."

Mr Brimmell added: "Both deaths were sudden and they are very much missed by all our members. We thought this would be a lovely tribute to them both and will provide their friends and family somewhere to sit quietly to remember them when visiting the cemetery.

On July 26 a second commemoration will take place at the naval social club's Sea Sunday Service where plaques to all the shipmates lost during the last year will be blessed and dedicated and added to others on the wall of remembrance.

Later in the year on November 11 a third commemoration to Mr Annis will take place involving Wychavon District Council and Pershore Schools' Armistice Day Service.