MEMBERS of a Japanese exchange programme marked the anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima with a silent vigil in Bridport.

Bridport Young Persons Action Trust's (BYPAT) Japanese exchange group met with their Quaker friends to commemorate the 72nd anniversary of the bombing, which took place on August, 6, 1945.

A silent vigil was held in Bucky Doo Square on Sunday (6), followed by a short ceremony in the Peace Garden at the Quaker Meeting House - where paper cranes fluttered in the branches of the tree around which more than 30 people of all ages gathered.

Arthur Woodgate, founder of the exchange, said: "The crane is a mystical bird in Japanese culture, and it is believed that if you make 1,000 paper cranes you will recover from a serious illness.

"The story was told of Sadako Sasaki, who was two years old when the atomic bomb was dropped near her home in Hiroshima. Ten years later, and after much suffering with leukaemia caused by radiation exposure, Sadako died aged 12. Before her death she had attempted to make 1,000 paper cranes, but was able to manage only 644. Her school friends made the rest, and a thousand cranes were buried with her.

"A memorial to Sadako and all the children who have died from the effects of the bomb will be visited by the members of the Exchange in 2018, and they will add their own paper cranes to the many thousands that are sent yearly to Hiroshima by children and young people from around the world."

The ceremony in the Peace Garden ended with everyone in the circle joining hands and dancing the Hokey Cokey, made popular through the exchange with members of BYPAT’s partner organisation, the Koyamadai Educational Foundation with tears turning into laughter.

Across the road in St Mary’s Church, candles were then lit in memory of those who had died in the bombing, and the commemoration ended as it had begun: in silent contemplation.

For details on how to contribute your own paper cranes to the Children’s Memorial in Hiroshima, email a.c.woodgate@btinternet.com