Remembrance in Basingstoke: Town to honour the fallen

A short Armistice Day ceremony will take place on Saturday, November 11 followed by a Remembrance Sunday service and parade on Sunday, November 12. Both services will take place outside the Civic Offices in London Road, Basingstoke, at 11am.

The Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane, Cllr David Leeks, will lay a wreath at the War Memorial on behalf of the borough at the short Armistice Day service, which will include a two minutes’ silence and prayers

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The Remembrance Sunday event will begin with a parade from Market Place, through the Top of Town to the War Memorial. Following the arrival of the mayor’s party and fellow dignitaries, the Act of Remembrance will begin with The Last Post and Exhortation, followed by two minutes’ silence at 11am. There will also be a Chinook flypast by RAF Odiham. Residents should note that there is limited space at the War Memorial.

The Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire Lady Louisa Portal MBE DL, the mayor and the leader of the council Cllr Paul Harvey will lead the wreath-laying. Members of the public are invited to lay their wreaths following the service.

People can place their own poppy crosses in remembrance of relatives and friends beside the soldier silhouette outside the Goldings building, near the War Memorial. Poppy crosses will be available on Remembrance Sunday.

Following the service, the deputy lieutenant and the mayor will take the salute from the parade in London Street, which will continue to march through the Top of Town back to Market Place, where the parade will be dismissed.

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For the safety of the parade and attendees, a temporary road closure will be put in place outside the Civic Offices during the morning and the traffic will also be stopped in New Road at 11am for the two minutes’ silence.

Cllr Leeks said: “Honouring the sacrifices of our armed forces, past and present, continues to be so important to our communities and the Mayoress and I consider it a huge honour and privilege to lead the borough’s remembrance events.

“Taking a little time out of our busy schedules to stop, reflect and remember the service and sacrifice of our armed forces is a small but very poignant way to show our respect and I hope that as many residents as possible are able to take part in this moment of reflection."

For more information about remembrance events, visit basingstoke.gov.uk/remembrance-sunday-service.