You Can Watch Guildford’s Service Of Remembrance Live On Facebook

Published on: 6 Nov, 2020
Updated on: 6 Nov, 2020

Guildford War Memorial in the Castle Grounds.

The borough council’s service of Remembrance, at 11am this Sunday, will be broadcast live on the GBC Facebook page, allowing all to honour the fallen and those who served our country.

Only a select few will attend the ceremony following government safety guidelines, and the broadcast will begin at 10.30am at www.facebook.com/GuildfordBC.

It is believed to be the first time there has been no public ceremony at Guildford’s War Memorial in the Castle Grounds since it was erected in 1921.

The grounds will be closed to the public during the event, but the war memorials will be open for the rest of the day for people to visit, pay their respects and lay wreaths.

Our service will be led by Revd Canon Robert Cotton, rector of Holy Trinity and St Mary’s Church, with wreaths laid by Col Patrick Crowley, Deputy Colonel of The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment, Guildford MP Angela Richardson, the Deputy Mayor, Cllr Marsha Moseley, council leader Joss Bigmore, council managing director James Whiteman, and representatives of local service organisations and emergency services.

Bugler WO2 Peter Bryan, band sergeant major (BSM) of The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment Band will play the Last Post and Reveille.

Poppy wreaths laid on the memorial.

Cllr Moseley said: “While e are not able to invite our residents to join us in person, we want to share this moment of great national and local importance with them by inviting them to reflect with us, in the safety of their homes, on the sacrifices made by members of our Armed Forces.

Deputy Mayor Marsha Moseley will stand in for Mayor Richard Billington who is recovering from surgery.

“I will pause with the rest of the nation to observe the two-minute silence and remember the bravery and determination of our soldiers. We shall be forever in their debt.

“Thousands of people have already been able to watch our VJ Day and VE Day ceremonies in this way, and we hope they will again join us in paying tribute to those who lost their lives serving their country.”We will never forget those who served with such distinction, and it is important we continue to honour them in whatever way we can.”

Cllr Bigmore said: “Covid-19 restrictions do not allow us to hold public events so we are sadly unable to mark these significant and very special occasions as we would like to this year. But we hope all residents of the borough are able to join us online to commemorate Remembrance Sunday.

“We were determined to find a safe way to all come together to remember and honour the brave men and women who fought for our freedom. The castle grounds will… re-open soon after the service.

“If you do visit on Sunday, please ensure you follow all government guidelines to maintain social distancing with no more than six in a group.

“Our ‘Guildford Remembers’ flags are already flying in the castle grounds and on our Guildhall balcony, with the Castle Keep and the Guildhall also lit in red to show our support for the Royal British Legion’s poppy appeal.”

Robert Cotton

Revd Canon Cotton said: “I am delighted all of our residents will have the opportunity to join us on such an important day. Remembrance Sunday is very personal to all of us, as we remember family members and loved ones who have served our country, but it also unites communities in respect and reflection.”I hope this can bring us all closer together at a time when we need the support of our friends and neighbours more than ever.”

This month also marks the centenary of the burial of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey, in honour of the hundreds of thousands of servicemen and women of World War One with no known grave.

For information on how local residents can commemorate Remembrance Sunday in Surrey, visit https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/people-and-community/armed-forces/news-and-events/how-surrey-can-say-thank-you-this-remembrance-day.

For information on the centenary of the Unknown Warrior, including the Military Wives Choir’s re-recording of the hymn Abide With Me, sung at the service at Westminster Abbey on November 11, 1920, visit https://www.westminster.gov.uk/unknownwarrior100.