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.
Very well attended and as ‘There were road closures in the town centre’ traffic was coming down Stert Street and over the bridge to pour down East St Helens, yet again illustrating the folly of the proposed traffic ‘improvements’ at the confluence of the High Street, Stert Street, Bridge Street and East St. Helens. Beware, sometimes ‘progress’ isn’t progress, but just results in ‘unexpected consequences’. At times when the High Street is closed traffic needs to move ‘freely’ between Stert Street and East St Helens and not be impeded by ‘road furniture’.
The new junction design allows for that.
Interesting to see the name of M.C.Hayward on the war memorial. The founder of the Stert Street Surgery who was fatally wounded in WWI whilst working as a military doctor.
The drummer, Jon Shaw, is a seasoned 22 year service veteran and is correctly addressed by his official title of ‘Drum Major’
King regards,
Mrs Drum Major
Thanks. I have updated that now.
not like layla to turn up for a photoshoot
But if she doesn’t people complain that she’s never seen around!
thats because she is only around for a photo shoot
Apart from the fact that it’s undignified to play politics on a post about Remembrance Day, how can you possibly know how often she is around when there aren’t cameras?
What a nasty comment.
What a nasty comment about our MP; politicising remembrance is awful and monagain’s attempt to be clever at our MP’s expense is cringeworthy …
Please could Girlguiding Abingdon use a photo and a couple of screenshots from your video for their social media and to share with the parents of our girls who laid our wreath and carried our flag?
Thanks
Hi Carol, That is fine. I have more pictures that I did use here and will send you a link to them.