A century after the war memorial in Bishop’s Stortford was first unveiled, hundreds of people of all ages gathered on Remembrance Sunday to pay their respects to the town’s 300-plus fallen of the two world wars as well as others who have died in conflicts around the globe.
The memorial, in Castle Gardens, was unveiled on April 3, 1921, to commemorate 207 Stortford men who lost their lives in the Great War of 1914-18. In the 1960s, the names of 107 men and women who died in the Second World War (1939-45) were added.
On Sunday (Nov 14), members of uniformed organisations in the town formed a parade from the Link Road car park, along The Causeway to Castle Gardens for a service of Remembrance. Family members, friends and others lined the route.
The band of 309 (Sawbridgeworth) Squadron of the RAF Air Cadets led the parade. Pic: Vikki Lince (53051705)
The parade was led by the band of the 309 (Sawbridgeworth) Squadron of the RAF Air Cadets, followed by members of the Bishop’s Stortford Royal British Legion branch, members of the emergency services and youth organisations including Scouts and Guides.
It was briefly disrupted when one of the Legion standard bearers collapsed and had to be taken to hospital, having been revived with the aid of a firefighters’ defibrillator.
The service in Castle Gardens was led by Major Alan Frederikson, of the Bishop’s Stortford Salvation Army, and the Rev Tim Weeks, chaplain to the Stortford Royal British Legion and part of the Bishop’s Stortford deanery team.
The Remembrance service in Castle Gardens, led by Major Alan Frederikson of the Salvation Army, left, with Royal British Legion branch president John Robinson, right. Pic: Vikki Lince (53051713)
The Last Post heralded a two-minute silence at 11am, marked by the firing of maroons from the top of the Waytemore Castle mound, before Reveille was played. Music was provided by the Bishop’s Stortford Band and community choir Herts and Soul.
The service featured hymns, prayers, the Acts of Remembrance and Commitment, a reading of the Kohima Epitaph – “When you go home tell them of us and say, For your tomorrow we gave our today” – by Stortford Legion branch president John Robinson, the National Anthem and a blessing.
Wreath-laying took place during the singing of hymn “Eternal Father, strong to save”. The first was laid by Stortford mayor Cllr Keith Warnell, followed by councillors, representatives of the Legion, service organisations, other local organisations, relatives and friends.
The parade and service were organised by the town council and the Stortford Royal British Legion.
Bishop’s Stortford Royal British Legion president John Robinson makes a dash to get into position in Castle Gardens as the parade nears. Pic: Vikki Lince (53051704)The Causeway/Castle Park, Bishop’s Stortford – Remembrance parade and service. Pic: Vikki Lince (53051706)Members of Bishop’s Stortford Royal British Legion. Pic: Vikki Lince (53051707)The Causeway/Castle Park, Bishop’s Stortford – Remembrance parade and service. Pic: Vikki Lince (53051708)Members of the Bishop’s Stortford detachment of the Army cadets. Pic: Vikki Lince (53051709)A strong turnout by the Bishop’s Stortford Army cadets. Pic: Vikki Lince (53051710)Members of the Bishop’s Stortford detachment of the Army cadets. Pic: Vikki Lince (53051711)The Causeway/Castle Park, Bishop’s Stortford – Remembrance parade and service. Pic: Vikki Lince (53051712)The Remembrance service in Castle Gardens. Pic: Vikki Lince (53051714)Generations unite: The Remembrance service in Castle Gardens. Pic: Vikki Lince (53051715)Wreaths were laid during the hymn ‘Eternal Father, strong to save’. Pic: Vikki Lince (53051717)Former councillor Colin Woodward, left, laid a wreath on behalf of Herts Fire and Rescue Service. Pic: Vikki Lince (53051720)Wreaths were laid during the hymn ‘Eternal Father, strong to save’. Pic: Vikki Lince (53051734)A wreath is laid by British Red Cross representatives. Pic: Vikki Lince (53051735)Stortford police’s Insp Mark Collins and a police cadets representative. Pic: Vikki Lince (53051739)Wreaths were laid during the hymn ‘Eternal Father, strong to save’. Pic: Vikki Lince (53051740)Wreaths were laid during the hymn ‘Eternal Father, strong to save’. Pic: Vikki Lince (53051741)The youngest wreath-layer… Pic: Vikki Lince (53051743)The Remembrance service in Castle Gardens. Pic: Vikki Lince (53051744)The Remembrance service in Castle Gardens. Pic: Vikki Lince (53051746)Town and district councillor George Cutting and his wife. Pic: Vikki Lince (53051747)Mark Greatbatch with the standard that was carried by Arthur King until he collapsed during the parade. Pic: Vikki Lince (53051748)The Remembrance service in Castle Gardens. Pic: Vikki Lince (53051749)The Remembrance service in Castle Gardens. Pic: Vikki Lince (53051750)The Remembrance service in Castle Gardens. Pic: Vikki Lince (53051753)Bishop’s Stortford Royal British Legion president John Robinson. Pic: Vikki Lince (53051754)The crowd was welcomed by Bishop’s Stortford Salvation Army’s Major Alan Frederikson. Pic: Vikki Lince (53051755)Councillors in attendance included Norma Symonds, Alastair Ward-Booth and Richard Townsend. Pic: Vikki Lince. (53051756)The Union Jack is lowered. Pic: Vikki Lince (53051757)Standards were dipped on the first note of the National Anthem. Pic: Vikki Lince. (53051758)Herts county and East Herts district councillor Graham McAndrew, left, with Herts Deputy Lieutenant Fergus McMullen. Pic: Vikki Lince (53051759)The Remembrance service nears its end. Pic: Vikki Lince (53051762)The parade returns along The Causeway. Pic: Vikki Lince (53051774)Jacqui Baron of the Bishop’s Stortford Satellite Rotary Club with veterans. Pic: Vikki Lince (53051804)Bishop’s Stortford police cadets on the parade. Pic: Vikki Lince (53051805)The parade returns along The Causeway. Pic: Vikki Lince (53051806)A veteran makes his way home. Pic: Vikki Lince (53051807)The British Red Cross contingent. Pic: Vikki Lince (53051808)The Scouting movement was well represented. Pic: Vikki Lince. (53051809)Cubs’ honour… Pic: Vikki Lince. (53051810)The youngest member of the parade… Pic: Vikki Lince. (53051811)The parade returns along The Causeway. Pic: Vikki Lince (53051812)Stortford mayor Cllr Keith Warnell and Herts Deputy Lieutenant Fergus McMullen applaud the youth service turnout. Pic: Vikki Lince (53051813)The parade returns along The Causeway. Pic: Vikki Lince (53051814)The parade returns along The Causeway. Pic: Vikki Lince (53051815)
