The day started with men tidying all around the War memorial.
There are about 36,000 war memorials in the U.K. The one in Abingdon stands in the Square.

People first gathered in St Helens Church for a short service, and then paraded to the war memorial where there the largest crowd for many years.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years contemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

The Cornet played the last post, the flags were drooped, and we stood for the two minutes silence. (Many thanks to the Abingdon Herald for the picture of the Mayor paying his respects).

After the silence Abingdon Band played sad songs of remembrance as wreaths were brought up. The Mayor, Peter Green, brought up the Town wreathe.

Afterwards all the uniformed groups marched in front of the Mayor, the president of the Abingdon Royal British legion, the commanding officer of Dalton Barracks, and the members of Abingdon Town Council.
Flag bearers were followed by members of the Royal British Legion…
Soldiers from Dalton Barracks…
Young peoples uniformed organisations…
And bringing up the rear were the crowds.
Once everybody had gone, the wreaths remain in front of the War Memorial – each with a badge from the donating group. Round the other three sides are the names of the men who did not return to Abingdon.

The Rector of Abingdon reminded us, that many service men who do return find it difficult to adjust after being through events that make them feel removed while with people they love. Even many of those that return find “That world that was ours is a world that is ours no more.”

In Trinity Hall the November Fair is an occassion to buy cakes, and jams and marmalade, and enter raffles, and get nick-nacks. The book stall was looking depleted when I left after an early rush, so there should not be too much to do when I go back to help clear up.

At 11 somebody rang a bell and announced we would be silent for a minute to mark the end of the First World War. Everybody seemed frozen in an attitude like playing musical statues: remembering something. If it was not a loved one who did not return from war, then it was someone they missed despite the passage of the days or years…

Then it was all off again: eating cakes drinking tea and coffee, sealed bids for three painting by Judith Payne, helping raise a bit more money towards whatever it is that needs funds this year.

This shadow of the cross from the roof of St Helens moves slowly across the wall from front to back, as it did back then when young men (butchers boys and office clerks) marched away from Abingdon to Death-or-Glory.

Down near St Helens Church this van from The Cumbria Clock Company has come about 250 miles to look at the St Helens Clock. The notice on the lamp-post says that East and West St Helens Street will be closed tomorrow for the Remembrance Day Parade.

This charming man was outside Going Places, the travel agents, this morning, selling poppies. Today is Armistice Day (the 11th of the 11th).

Sometimes, but not very often, I’ll fake a picture for dramatic effect.

One of these pictures has had the colours enhanced, one has not.

The first is just some trees in a car’s wing-mirror at Millets Farm.

The second is looking towards Abingdon Bridge from St Helen Wharf. (The cottage on the bridge is a mini version of the cottage in yesterday’s post.)

One picture has been faked by pulling a colour slider along. (I use the free irfanview editor for trimming and shrinking pictures but use ms-paint for adding arrows or writing. )

“Faking it” is Channel 4’s reality show. One individual is given four weeks to master a skill well enough to fool a group of expert judges.