Guildford Marks Armistice Day With a Traditional Ceremony at The Guildhall

Published on: 11 Nov, 2016
Updated on: 12 Nov, 2016

At 11am a maroon signalled the exact time when, 98 years ago, the Armistice commenced.

Guildford observed a two minute silence to mark the 98th anniversary of the end of the Great War in 1918 as part of the Remembrance commemoration of those who have died in that conflict and those following.

A two minute silence was commenced following the sounding of last post by a bugler from the Friary Band. After the silence he blew reveille.

In what has become the traditional ceremony at the Guildhall in the High Street the last post was sounded and maroons signalled the seat and end of a two minute silence.

It is estimated that between 200 and three hundred people attended the ceremony at The Guildhall in Guildford High Street.

Between two to three hundred gathered to take part including: former servicemen, members of local reserve and cadet forces, the mayor, freemen, aldermen, councillors and civic dignitaries.

On the Guildhall balcony were (left to right) Sue Sturgeon, managing director of Guildford Borough Council (GBC), Paul Spooner, council leader, The Mayor of Guildford, Gordon Jackson, Cadet CSM Blake Major, William Wallis, RAF Association and the Friary Band bugler.

An exhortation: “They shall grow not old…” was read by Mr William Wallis of the RAF Association and Cadet Company Sergeant Major Blake Major of the Royal Grammar School Combined Cadet Force read the Kohima Epitaph: “When you go home, tell them of us and say, For your tomorrow, we gave our today.”

Among the attendees was Diane James who recently made the news by resigning as the Ukip leader before she was properly in place. Ms James MEP lives in Ewhurst.

Present at the ceremony was Diane James of Ukip (right), photographed with local Ukip member Ngaire Wadman.

There will be a Civic Service of Remembrance in Holy Trinity Church, Guildford, at 10.55am on Sunday, November 13 followed by a wreath laying ceremony at the Guildford War Memorial in the Castle Grounds.