At the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, Abingdon once again paused to remember.

The Armistice was signed at five o’clock on Monday morning, 11th November 1918, bringing an end to WWI hostilities at 11 am, after what was described as ‘the cruellest and most terrible war that has ever scourged mankind.’ Since that day, people across the world have honoured the moment with a two-minute silence.

This morning, the community gathered at the Abingdon War Memorial. The Mayor and local councillors, police, and the Royal British Legion were in attendance, along with a class of pupils from Thameside School. The children placed wooden crosses in the turf beside the memorial. Clare Oldfield who runs the poppy appeal in Abingdon said, ‘The children of Thameside School have shown amazing support for the Poppy Appeal over the past few years and today’s appearance at the cenotaph in Abingdon to mark Armistice shows the importance of today to them. They are the new generation making sure that the act of remembrance continues.’

Among those present was also a former soldier holding his six month puppy, Winnie, who brought the children and people together once the silence had ended.

The formal part of Remembrance Sunday began when Civic dignitaries processed from the Guildhall to St Helen’s Church. They were led by the Mayor, Cllr Rawda Jehanli and Felicity Dick, Deputy Lieutenant of Oxfordshire,

The church filled up with uniformed groups and other local people for a short service led by the Rector, Rev Dr Jen Brown.

There were road closures in the town centre. Other groups – including soldiers from Dalton Barracks – gathered outside the church. At the War Memorial, a large crowd had gathered, and members of the Rotary Club handed out service sheets. Four soldiers took up sentry positions.

After the church service, the Rector led the procession to the war memorial, followed by the army, the uniformed organisations, and civic dignitaries. A service at the memorial began with prayers.

I made a short video of part of the service:

Sections shown in the video include:
* The Exhortation delivered by a member of the Royal British Legion: “They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old…”
* Alison Rich of Abingdon Town Band performing the Last Post (before the Two Minutes’ Silence)
* The laying of some wreaths at the war memorial (shown out of sequence here as it happens after the Reveille).
* Abingdon Town Band performing the Reveille (after the Two Minutes’ Silence)
* The National Anthem

The war memorial bears the names of Abingdon men and women who died in both World Wars, as well as later conflicts. The long lists of names engraved in stone are a reminder of how deeply the town was affected, and how many local families carry a legacy of service and sacrifice.

After the service, Jon Shaw, the Drum Major, led the soldiers and other uniformed organisations through the town, cheered by people who had gathered.

At the County Hall, the uniformed groups saluted the Deputy Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, Layla Moran MP, the Mayor, and the senior officer.

Local people had their chance to put their own crosses in the turf round the war memorial for family and friends who they remembered.