Over the years I've been to a number of Remembrance Services in Loughborough, including at the Baxter Gate Chapel, and the United Reformed Church, but more often I've been standing outdoors with hundreds of other people, in all weathers, in our lovely Queen's Park, at our remarkable Carillon Tower war memorial, observing remembrance.
Each hamlet, town, village, or city has a unique commemoration service that reflects their experience of the conflicts. I remember attending the service at Hathern one year: we started inside the church and then all processed to the War Memorial which is some distance from the church, where individuals from the village were remembered.
The service in Queen's Park is probably familiar to many of us. Usually, the procession to the Carillon starts from the council car park on Southfields Road, but this year was slightly different, and the parade began in Market Place. There are all manner of groups taking part in this procession, including the TA; the Royal Navy; the Air Force; the Royal British Legion; St John's Ambulance; Boys and girls Brigade; Drums from the Loughborough Grammar School; and numerous scouting and guiding groups.
The order of service was as in previous years. The face of the clergy at the foot of the tower, different from recent years. For those of us who until recently have only ever known the country's sovereign to be a queen, it still felt strange and unfamiliar to be singing 'King' instead of 'Queen' in the National Anthem, accompanied by the Hathern Concert Brass.
The two minutes' silence was accompanied by paper poppies being released from the balcony of the Carillon, blown in whatever direction the wind wanted, and coming to rest across the park, leaving a carpet of red to linger for days and weeks to come. Hymns were sung, blessings made, sermons delivered, and prayers whispered.
This year, the end of the silence was marked not by the usual rifle shot, but by a whistle. Throughout the laying of the wreaths, the carillonneur skillfully plays the beautiful instrument that is found within the Carillon tower. At the laying of the wreaths, there were familiar faces, like the Aldermen and Freemen of the Borough, as well as new faces like the VC of Loughborough University (although this might have been his second appearance!) and the headmaster of the Loughborough Grammar School. The service concluded with the Lord's Prayer, and Holst's 'I vow to thee my country'. In the bandstand, the Loughborough Concert Band continued to provide a musical accompaniment to the morning.
If you missed the service and want to catch up, the order of service and a recording of the service are on the council website.
In other parts of the country, the order of service is quite similar, but at the same time things are also, quite different. From landlocked Loughborough, to the coastal town of Falmouth, where the War Memorial is in Kimberley Park, the bandstand more of a platform [1], the park itself undulating and home to many varieties of interesting trees. The procession is led by the Kernow Pipes & Drums, and is followed by familiar groups. The service begins only moments before the two minutes' silence, no paper poppies floating across the park, but light, white clouds billowing across the blue sky. The laying of each wreath is announced, and it is new but not surprising to hear names like the Coastguard and RNLI; the RNAS; the Royal Fleet Auxilliary the Ganges Association; the Commonwealth War Graves Commission; the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club, and the US 29th Infantry, as well as the more familiar Deputy Lord Lieutenant of the County, the Mayor, and various representatives of the council and the local university. A representative from the local bowls club also lays a wreath.
The singing that follows the laying of wreaths is all a capella - no band or Carillon accompaniment. After the service, the groups process back to The Moor, for the march past and salute to the Mayor of Falmouth.
If you want to see the service at Falmouth, there is a recording of the event on the Falmouth Town Council Facebook page (and you don't need to be a member of Facebook to watch this).
Unique but familiar services across the country, brought together each year to remember.
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| Kimberley Park, Falmouth |
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| Kernow Pipes & Drums |
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| Royal British Legion |
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| Royal Navy |
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| March past at The Moor, Falmouth |
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Notes
[1] Falmouth's Edwardian bandstand can be found in the Gyllyngdune Gardens
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posted by lynneaboutloughborough
With apologies for typos which are all mine!
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