Hundreds packed out Horsham’s Carfax this Sunday to commemorate Remembrance Sunday, paying tribute to all those who have given their lives in war.
Remembrance Sunday was originally conceived as a commemoration of the war dead of the First World War, but after the Second World War, the ceremony was extended to focus on the nation’s dead of both World Wars, and in 1980 it was widened once again to extend the remembrance to all who have suffered and died in conflict in the service of their country and all those who mourn them.
The Remembrance Parade arrived at Horsham’s War Memorial at 10.50am and the commemorations were led by Horsham District Council’s Chairman Cllr Kate Rowbottom.
The service of remembrance was conducted by The Rev Alan Mayer.
The two minutes silence, in memory of the fallen, was then observed at 11am.
The Chairman of Horsham District Council, Cllr Kate Rowbottom, led the wreath laying on behalf of the people of the Horsham District, followed by Mr Nigel Caplin, Chairman of the Royal British Legion Horsham Branch and Cllr Morwen Millson of West Sussex County Council.
Representatives of the armed services and youth organisations then laid their wreaths, each as a mark of solemn respect.
A blessing marked the end of the service at the War Memorial.
A church service then followed at the Parish Church of St. Mary The Virgin in the Causeway, Horsham to which everyone was invited.
After the service, the Parade left the Causeway and marched, via South Street, back through the Carfax where the salute was taken by Cllr Kate Rowbottom and Mr Nigel Caplin.
A number of Remembrance Sunday services took place throughout the Horsham District on this day.
For those who wish to remember the fallen at the “eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month” there will also be a short service at the Horsham War Memorial on Monday 11 November at 11am.
Additionally, Horsham Post Office has now repositioned its Honours Board from the town centre to its Hurst Road sorting office and the Horsham branch of the Royal British Legion will be organising a service of dedication for the board on Saturday 16 November at 3pm to which everyone is invited.
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