The annual Remembrance Day service and parade took place in light rain, drawing a large crowd of residents to the war memorial.

At 10:00 am, the service commenced at St. Helen’s Church, led by Rev. Dr. Charles Miller and assisted by Deacon Selina Nisbett, the Mayor’s Chaplain. Rev. Millar said the two-minute silence unites the nation like nothing else. He spoke of remembering and grief, and the Christian hope in the resurrection.

Following the service, a procession formed outside the church, led by drummer John Shaw and standard bearers. Various uniformed groups, including representatives of the armed forces, cadet forces, and local organisations, marched alongside Mayor Gwyneth Lewis and Councillors. Despite the absence of soldiers from Dalton Barracks, who were engaged in operations, there was a large procession at the war memorial.

The Abbey Brass Band were there to play music and sound the last post.

The remembrance service at the war memorial was a simple yet moving affair, featuring prayers, the exhortation, “They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old…”, and a two-minute silence.

After the silence, the rain intensified as representatives from various organizations and individuals placed wreaths on the war memorial.

The uniformed groups marched in a parade past the Mayor and Councillors at the County Hall. The parade was followed by most of the crowd, who dispersed around the town.

Others remained to reflect at the war memorial, admiring the wreaths and their messages of remembrance.

Among the wreaths, two particularly stood out – handcrafted by the Abingdon Kindergarten and the Duchess Nursey School, Abingdon. The poppies, were made from colourful hands.

The pupils at Kingfisher School have created a fabulous display for the Royal British Legion Club in Spring Road, Abingdon. (Thanks to Clare for the pictures.)

Most people will remember that Sunday is Remembrance Sunday. Saturday is Armistice Day, and there will be a smaller gathering at the war memorial at 11 pm for a two-minute silence.

World War I officially ended on November 11, 1918, at 11:00 AM, after the signing of the armistice a few hours earlier. From 1919 to 1939, Armistice Day was the main day of remembrance in the UK for those who died in the war. After World War II, the main observance in the United Kingdom moved to Remembrance Sunday, which is held on the second Sunday in November.

In the 1990s(1), Armistice Day was revived after a campaign by the Royal British Legion, and since then a two-minute silence has been observed at 11:00 AM on November 11.

ref 1: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/515640.stm

Armistice Day is remembered with a gathering of Royal British Legion, civic leaders and members of the public at the war memorial on the 11th of November at 11 am.

Remembrance Sunday involves a church service at St Helen’s, then a more extensive gathering of Royal British Legion, civic leaders, armed forces, uniformed groups, and members of the public at the war memorial on the 13th of November from 10:50. That is followed by a march to the County Hall to salute the Mayor of Abingdon-on-Thames, Cllr Andy Foulsham, the Deputy Lieutenant for Oxfordshire and the Commanding Officer of Dalton Barracks.

There is also a tree in the Abbey Meadows, planted by the Abingdon Peace Group, in memory of all victims of war. The Ukraine war has had many victims, some of whom have come to Abingdon. There are also people from Syria.

At 11am, to remember the end of the war and all who had died, ‘The Last Post’ and the ‘Reveille’ were played by Alison Rich of Abingdon Town Band.

Wreaths were then laid at Abingdon’s War Memorial by the Mayor of Abingdon-on-Thames, Councillor Charlie Berks, and the Chair of Vale of White Horse District Council, Councillor Margaret Crick.

The tenor bell tolled at St Helen’s Church followed by the chime of the tenor at St Nicolas Church, 75 times between them.

Here is a short video of the ceremony and the bells.