Solemn Ceremony Marks The Fortieth Anniversary of the Guildford Bombings

Published on: 5 Oct, 2014
Updated on: 5 Oct, 2014

The Dean of Guildford Cathedral lights a candle in remembrance. On the right, the Mayor of Guildford and Anne Milton MP.

Town notables gathered at Quakers’ Acre, North Street this afternoon for a service to commemorate the fortieth anniversary of the Guildford pub bombings.

Surrey's Cheif Constable bows her head in reflection amongst those gathered in Quakers' Acre to commemorate the fortieth anniversary of the Guildford pub bombings.

Amongst those gathered in Quakers’ Acre to commemorate the fortieth anniversary of the Guildford pub bombings, Surrey’s Chief Constable bows her head in reflection.

Around 100 people gathered to hear a moving service conducted by the Revd Brian Roberts assisted by the Dean of Guildford Cathedral, the Very Revd Dianna Gwilliams.

Particularly poignant was the reading out of the names of the five who were killed together with their ages: Paul Craig 22; William Forsyth 18; John Hunter 17; Caroline Slater 18 and; Ann Hamilton 19.

The Mayor of Guildford, Cllr David Elms, a fireman at the time on the incident, paid a tribute to our armed forces and Guildford’s MP Anne Milton gave a reading from the Old Testament (Micah 4 v 1-5). After an Act of Remembrance a minute’s silence was observed.

Among the party from Guildford Borough Council were: Deputy Mayor Cllr Nikki Nelson Smith; Freeman David Watts; Hon Aldermen; the town’s remembrancer Matthew Alexander; council leader Stephen Mansbridge; opposition leader Caroline Reeves and around a dozen councillors.

A serving drummer and veterans from the Scots Guards were present and a standard bearer representing the Women’s Royal Army Corps, now disbanded.

Surrey Police was represented by Chief Constable Lynne Owens.

Constables from Surrey Police keep a watchful eye over the service. In the background the former Horse and Groom pub a scene of carnage forty years ago.

Constables from Surrey Police keep a watchful eye over the service. In the background the former Horse and Groom pub, about to become a scene of carnage that shocked the nation forty years ago.