The Remembrance Sunday commemorations are always an important event for our town, but especially so with this year marking a century since the start of the First World War.
Abingdon Town Band led dignitaries from the Guildhall for a Service of Remembrance and Reconciliation at St Helen’s Church at 10.00 am. There were guests from our twin town Lucca at the service, and one lesson was also read in Italian.
That was followed by a Remembrance Service at the war memorial. People began to arrive soon after 10.00 around the outside of The Square, leaving room for the uniformed organisations and dignitaries.
During this service Colonel Jon Asbee from Dalton Barracks read the exhortation …“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old…”
A bugler sounded the last post. There followed two minutes silence (to remember the fallen) at 11.00.
Then people sang “O God our help in ages past” during the laying of the wreaths. Not many veterans remain now from the 2nd World War.
In Italy, soldiers who died for the nation are remembered on 4th November, or the nearest Sunday, when the ceasefire that followed the Armistice of Villa Giusti in 1918 began. A lady from our twin town Lucca laid one of the many wreaths here in Abingdon.
The Minister then said “Let us commit ourselves to responsible living and faithful service:”
“Will you strive for all that makes for peace?” People responded “We will.”
“Will you seek to heal the wounds of war?” People responded “We will.”
“Will you work for a just future for all humanity?” People responded “We will.”
After the singing of the National Anthem, the crowds cheered the parade of uniformed organisations. The Mayor of Abingdon-on-Thames, Angela Lawrence, and the MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, Nicola Blackwood, were among those taking the salute.
Wreaths are there to view for a few weeks more at the war memorial in Abingdon, if you can’t get to the sea of poppies round the Tower of London.
Thought I should let you know that “the Bugler” was in fact the principal cornet player of the Abingdon Town Band, Alison Rich, and she has been playing the last post at this event for 22 or 23 years. She has done a marvellous job over the years and is better player than the military could ever supply in the past. Well done Alison you are a town treasure.
Nicola voted to send other peoples’ children to Syria to fight Call-me-Dave’s war. She should be ashamed to have shown her face.
All best wishes to The Forces and their families who bear the brunt and sorrow of politicians’ vanity.
I wonder if the P.A. system has been improved so that those who stand on Ock Street can hear what is happening?
David , much better pa this year and conducted from in front of memorial as well which I think helped as well as always well organized.
May I correct Newcomer. The motion in Parliament on 26th September 2014 did not endorse UK air strikes or soldiers on the ground in Syria and do so would require another vote in parliament.
The motion and I quote ” ..accordingly supports Her Majesty’s Government, working with allies, in supporting the Government of Iraq in protecting civilians and restoring its territorial integrity..”
This was at the request of the Government of Iraq. The vote was 524 votes to 43.
For further information see: http://www.parliament.uk
Yes, Monica … I know the Party Line
I guess the BBC have it wrong again:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04hg8y4
… but I think you got your votes/dates wrong, or was it just convenient for you?
Call Me Dave is now The Mission Creep.
Check the Parliamentary website as I did.
Monica, you can consult whatever source you like but it won’t change history:
‘British Parliament Votes Against Military Intervention In Syria’
That’s from:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/29/british-parliament-syria-vote_n_3839067.html
on 29/8/2013
When this vote was coming up I emailed little Nicola to suggest she didn’t vote for war, but her hand shot up, like a good class monitor, to vote for her party career.
I regard this as the moment that the Westminster Village should have realized that it had lost touch with the Public, but Dave continued to think that he could put a 180 degree spin on what had happened.
Unfortunately, the voters have a much longer memory than politicians would like and the day of judgement approaches.
As you’re so keen on Parliamentary stuff I offer you:
http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/mp.php?id=uk.org.publicwhip/member/40472&showall=yes
to see how our MP voted on 29/8/13
Don’t bother replying. you’re wrong.
Newcomer. You are obviously trying to force your own “Party line”. This string is about the good Remembrance Service. Not your personal whinge.
How patronising, ‘Little Nicola’, that’s all I will say on such an arrogant post. I agree whole heartedly with the above comment, this is time for us to reflect on a wonderful Rememberance Sunday & service. The sun shone & many people turned out to show their respect to the fallen. The PA system was much better, I stood at the junction on West St Helen Street & I could hear every word.
to both Newcomer and Monica, this is possibly not the thread for political point scoring.
I am so pleased that the PA has improved. the service was always a very moving one. Too late to mention now, but I always appreciated the smaller ceremony that took place on 11th November each year at the war memorial. the same happens in the centre of Luton on the 11th too, so I can keep up my personal tradition of marking remembrance day on remembrance day as well as the nearest Sunday.