Horsham remembers 2019

The War Memorial in the Carfax will be the focus of this year’s Remembrance Sunday service in Horsham at 11am on Sunday 10 November.

Remembrance Sunday is the day traditionally put aside to remember all those who have given their lives in war.

It was originally conceived as a commemoration of the war dead of the First World War but after the Second World War, the scope of 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 timings for the service will see the Parade arrive at Horsham’s War Memorial at approximately 10.50am on Sunday 10 November.

Led by The Rev Alan Mayer, the service will begin with the hymn 'O God Our Help in Ages Past'.

This will be followed by The Last Post.

The vicar will then lead the Exhortation:

'They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.'

The two minutes silence, in memory of the fallen, will then be held at 11am.

The Chairman of Horsham District Council, Cllr Kate Rowbottom, will lead the wreath laying on behalf of the people of the Horsham district. She will be followed by Mr Nigel Caplin, Chairman of the Royal British Legion Horsham Branch.

Representatives of the armed services and youth organisations will then lay their wreaths, each as a mark of solemn respect.

When the last wreath has been laid, the Parade Marshall will call the Parade to attention and one verse of the National Anthem will be sung.

A blessing will mark the end of the service at the War Memorial.

A church service will follow at the Parish Church of St. Mary The Virgin in the Causeway, Horsham to which everyone is invited.

After the service, the Parade will leave the Causeway and march, via South Street, back through the Carfax where the salute will be taken by Cllr Kate Rowbottom and Mr Nigel Caplin.

Working with the Church and Horsham District Council, the Royal British Legion is the main local organiser of Horsham's Remembrance Sunday service.

A number of Remembrance Sunday services take 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 Carfax 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.