Guildford Town’s Acts of Remembrance 2024

Published on: 27 Oct, 2024
Updated on: 29 Oct, 2024

Poppy wreaths laid at Guildford’s war memorial in the Castle Grounds.

This year, as usual, there will be two civic events to mark Remembrance in the Guildford town as well as the various ceremonies held in villages throughout the borough.

Saturday, November 9

Remembrance service at 3pm at the Charlotteville war memorial, Addison Road.

Followed by tea in Addison Court and a poster display on Charlotteville history and the men who served.

Remembrance Sunday

The Borough Service of Remembrance will take place on Sunday, November 10. The service will start at 9.45am at Holy Trinity Church. All are welcome to attend.

Shortly before the service the Deputy Lieutenant Col (Retd) Patrick Crowley MA MBE and the Mayor of Guildford, Sallie Barker, will lay flowers under the VC stones in Tunsgate.

After the church service, the parade will form at about 10.30am on Guildford High Street. Veterans, cadets, the mayor, councillors, and other dignitaries will take part.

Led by the Friary Brass Band the parade will make its way to the Castle Grounds for the two-minute silence.

The two-minute silence at 11am with the sounding of Last Post. Wreaths will be laid at the war memorials.

A previous Armistice service in Guildford High Street

Armistice Day

On Monday, November 11, at 11am a short ceremony will take place on the balcony of the Guildhall in the High Street. This will include:

welcome by Canon Simon Butler before the two-minute silence
sounding of Last Post by Richard Straker from the Friary Brass Band
the two-minute silence at 11am for The Mayor of Guildford, Sallie Barker, the balcony party, and members of the public in the High Street
playing of Reveille
reading of The Kohima Epitaph
close of the ceremony

An Armistice Day service at Jacobs Well.

Guildford Borough Council’s armed forces champion Cllr Stephen Hives said: “This year we commemorated the 80th anniversary of D-Day. A day when thousands of soldiers landed in Normandy, resulting in many casualties and lives lost.

“Our acts of remembrance are an expression of gratitude to all those who have sadly lost their lives serving in our armed forces. It also allows time to think of those serving today and still putting their lives in danger in service for our country.”

The Leader of Guildford Borough Council, Julia McShane added: “Remembrance Sunday offers an opportunity to come together as a community and to honour the sacrifice that our armed forces have made over decades.

“We also remember the families of those who have served and are still serving, the emergency services and those who have lost their lives because of conflict or terrorism. We can never repay the men and women who sacrificed so much for the freedoms we enjoy today.”