PEOPLE gathered at the Burma Star Garden in Winterhay Lane, Ilminster, on Saturday at 11am for a commemoration of the 70th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day.

The commemoration had been arranged by the Ilminster branch of the Royal British Legion and led by the Revd Canon John Simpson.

The Ilminster Deputy Mayor, Cllr Tony Walker, was in attendance as were members of the Chard Royal Naval Association.

Angie Carlos played the Last Post and Reveille, while past chairman John Robson gave the Legion Exhortation, the president Frank Gale gave the Kohima Epitaph, David Asprey read verses from a Changi Prison written by an unknown Far East Prisoner and the chairman John Goodall laid a poppy posy.

The Burma Star Garden was planted some 50 years ago to commemorate the men and women who fought in the Second World War’s Burma Campaign.

Mr Goodall said: “The garden was beautifully maintained voluntarily by Burma Star member Ken Carbin who lived nearby.

“Sadly, when Ken reached the age of 93, he was no longer physically able to carry on and the Ilminster Town Council took over responsibility.

“The town council wardens have continued to care for the garden, but much to Ken’s dismay, they are not able to lavish the same level of care and attention. Ken, who died last year, was the last Burma Star Ilminster Branch member.”

The Burma Star is a military campaign medal award to subjects of the British Commonwealth who served in the Second World War, specifically in the Burma Campaign from 1941 to 1945.