Massive turnout for Armistice Day Centenary at Sevenoaks War Memorial

THE largest crowd in living memory to attend the Sevenoaks Remembrance Sunday Service impeccably observed the traditional two-minute silence at the War Memorial on The Vine.

Even the weather played its part in adding to the atmosphere as Sevenoaks residents and organisations gathered for the Armistice Day Centenary.

After a massive downpour prior to the Service of Remembrance, the sun broke through just in time for the large crowd to surround the war memorial. It stayed shining throughout the morning except when, as if planned, a tiny light shower fell like tears during the two-minute silence.

The music for the service was provided by the excellent Eynsford Concert Band and after the opening hymn ‘O God, our help in ages past’ there was a reading from Father David Gibbons, the parish priest at St Thomas of Canterbury Church in Sevenoaks, followed by The Bidding by Canon Angus Macleay, the Rector of St. Nicholas Church, Sevenoaks.

The Exhortation, ‘They shall grow not old’ was read by war veteran and vice president of the Sevenoaks Branch of the Royal British Legion Pat Moore. He was followed by other customary prayers, readings and the lowering of the standards during the playing of The Last Post.

Wreaths were placed around the base of the War Memorial during the ceremony by representatives from many different Sevenoaks organisations who then joined their colleagues for the traditional march past which once again provided a fitting finale to the morning.