The public mood was reflective on Sunday (10 November) as people gathered in Farnham to commemorate those who lost their lives in conflict.
Hundreds of people lined the streets to watch the Mayor of Farnham, the Vice Lord Lieutenant Bill Biddell, the Deputy Mayor of Waverley and representatives of the armed forces, uniformed services, cadets, scout groups, community organisations and local dignitaries parade from Castle Street to the war memorial in Gostrey Meadow.
At the war memorial, a short service was held which included readings by the Mayor of Farnham Councillor Pat Evans, Roger Brown who is chairman of the Farnham Royal British Legion, Parade Marshall Ian Hunter and Louis Muddle representing young people of Farnham. At 11am The Last Post was played, and the standard was lowered as people paused to observe a two-minute silence. This was followed by the laying of wreaths on the war memorial.
After the ceremony which was jointly organised by Farnham Town Council and the Royal British Legion, there was a march past and the taking of the salute outside the Town Hall in South Street. The parade ended at St Andrew’s Church where there was a remembrance service led by the Revd David Uffindell with music played by the Alder Valley Brass Band.
Speaking after the Remembrance Sunday parade, Councillor Pat Evans, Mayor of Farnham said: “Here in the town centre and across Farnham, people were united by the act of putting their busy lives on hold and pausing for two minutes to honour those who have risked or lost their lives in many conflicts.
“Farnham is proud to have held the world’s first two-minute silence on Sunday 1 May 1916. With every year that passes, it becomes more and more important for us to take this time to remember our forefathers and their families and to give gratitude for the freedoms they fought for and that we enjoy today.”
Elsewhere in Farnham, remembrance services were held in The Bourne, Hale, Badshot Lea, Rowledge, Wrecclesham and Weybourne.
On Friday (8 November), the Mayor of Farnham welcomed children from the Farnham Schools’ Confederation for a special remembrance service with the Royal British Legion and councillors at Gostrey Meadow war memorial.
Supported by representatives from 229 Squadron ATC, the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment, Farnham Sea Cadets and veterans, the Mayor of Farnham read a tribute entitled ‘In Memory’ contributed by Farnham Heath End School. This was followed by students from Weydon and Farnham Heath End School taking it in turns to read ‘They Shall Grow Not Old’ with Deputy Lieutenant Brigadier Roger Hood QVRM TD DL.
After a two-minute silence, children from William Cobbett, St Peter’s Primary and South Farnham read poems they had written for the occasion. The service concluded with the laying of wreaths and the planting of crosses.
