Banbury’s annual Remembrance Sunday event will take place this Sunday in the centre of the town. Banbury Town Council will be organising the day, with support from several organisations, including the RBL, RAFA Club Banbury, the Royal Navy, the British Army, the RAF and a number of cadet groups.
The event will consist of a military parade – the largest of the year in the town – followed by the traditional service at St Mary’s Church and a wreath laying ceremony at the war memorial in People’s Park.
Earlier today (7th November) Town Mayor Cllr Kieron Mallon attended a special memorial service at the Alcan Memorial Garden, constructed in tribute to those that never returned to work at the old Banbury Alcan factory after leaving to fight in World War II. The site is now an Amazon warehouse, though an annual service continues to be held there.
This year, Remembrance Sunday falls on the 9th November, two days before Armistice Day on the 11th November. The event will begin at 10:00 outside Banbury Town Hall with the forming of the parade, which will then disembark around 10:15. The overall event is expected to come to a close around 14:00. It is one of Banbury Town Council’s most poignant events, carrying a great deal of importance within the town as well as the wider country. Because of this, large crowds are expected to line the streets for the parade, with road closures also due to be put in place.
In the build-up to the event, the High Street and roads surrounding Banbury Cross have been decorated with poppies and posters as well as maps, poems, and poignant images of war, paying tribute to servicemen from every corner of the Armed Forces. Remembrance Sunday is a collaborative effort, with several organisations supporting Banbury Town Council in order to deliver a memorable event. These include the Royal Air Force, the British Army, The Royal Navy, 1460 (Banbury) Squadron Air Cadets, Oxfordshire Army Cadet Force, Thames Valley Police, Sea Cadets Banbury, Royal British Legion Banbury, St. Mary’s Church and the RAFA Club Banbury.
The Mayor of Banbury said, “We remember those from Banbury who gave the ultimate sacrifice in two world wars, but we must also remember those who also served, were injured or died in many parts of the world since, Malaya, Aden, Korea, Cyprus, Northern Ireland, Falklands, Iraq and Afghanistan to name the main conflicts but there were many more. We gather to remember them, to honour their sacrifices and also the families they left behind. We in Banbury will not forget them or allow their memory to fade, we will remember them”.
Making their return from last year’s proceedings, the poppies lining Banbury’s High Street have written on them the names of troops from the Banbury area who lost their lives during both World War I and World War II. The names were added to the poppies by students from a number of schools across Banbury, as well as members of the cadet groups.
A great deal of support is shown by Banbury residents not only on Remembrance Sunday, but also on other days of remembrance and memorial. This has been demonstrated by previous events this year, including the 80th anniversaries of VE Day and VJ Day, as well as the 85th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain. Since it’s inception over a century ago, Remembrance Sunday remains one of the most popular town events, seeing a large turnout every year.
Remembrance Sunday is most famous for its association with World War I, with many also using it to pay respects those who fell in World War II. However, today it is considered an occasion to remember any and all members of the British and Commonwealth Armed Forces who died in war. This includes the Falklands War, Iraq, Afghanistan and other conflicts.
Banbury Town Council looks forward to welcoming all residents to join in this momentous and poignant occasion, which is sure to give everyone an opportunity to reflect on, and pay tribute to, those that gave their lives to keep this country and its freedoms preserved for future generations.
Anyone looking for more information can send an email to info@banbury.gov.uk. Meanwhile, stay up to date on council events of all sizes by following Banbury Town Council on Facebook and @banburyevents on Instagram.