In the year that marks the centenary of the start of World War I, this year’s Remembrance Sunday will perhaps be even more poignant.

Farnham’s annual Remembrance Sunday parade, which is organised by the Royal British Legion, will take place on Sunday 9 November. The Mayor of Farnham, Cllr Jeremy Ricketts and dignitaries will process from the Council Offices in South Street to the war memorial at Gostrey Meadow for a service at 10.45am. All members of the local community are welcome to attend. Rev’d. Canon Nigel Nicholson DL will lead the service which will include a poem read by the Mayor and a reading by Roger Brown, Chairman of the Royal British Legion. A two minute silence will be observed at 11am and the playing of Reveille by a bugler from Alder Valley Brass Band. The Mayor, guests and members of the public will then be invited to lay wreaths.

The service will be followed by a parade which will include representatives of the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment who are based in Farnham, members of the armed forces, uniformed services and local scout and guide groups. The march-past salute will be taken by the Deputy Lieutenant of Surrey accompanied by Major General Evans. They will be joined by the Mayor of Farnham, the Deputy Lieutenant of Surrey, the Chairman of Surrey County Council and the civic party. The parade will end at St Andrew’s church for a service at 11.30am.

With 2014 marking 100 years since the start of World War I, a special service of remembrance involving schools will take place on 11 November at Gostrey Meadow.

Commenting Cllr Jeremy Ricketts, Mayor of Farnham says: “The service on 11 November will see members of the Farnham branch of the Royal British Legion being joined by 24 children from 12 local schools to take part in the two minute silence. Once the silence has been observed, one pupil will lay a wreath and each child will place a wooden cross on the memorial.”

After the service, the children will join the Mayor for a civic tea.