Waiting for the band on Remembrance Day

While much of the UK commemorated Remembrance Day at 11am on Sunday 9 November, Berkhamsted’s ceremonies were mid-afternoon – the time the only marching band in the area could attend.

The annual event is held on the closest Sunday to the day World War One ended on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918, known as Armistice Day.

The different timing was about logistics, as Ian Hooper, chair of Berkhamsted and Tring and District British Legion explained. The Hemel Hempstead band is the only marching band in the area and not free on that special morning.

Time made no difference to the crowds waiting patiently for the marchers to arrive. The 140 in the parade included veterans, RAF and Army cadets (Berkhamsted and Berkhamsted School cadets), the Masons, many clubs and the town council including the Mayor, Councillor Susan Jordan, who laid the first wreath at the memorial at the Anglican Church of St Peter, and the Scout and Guide Movement including cubs – aged from eight to 18 years.

It was a big team effort, Ian said. ‘We started organising it in July, with other clubs and associations, the town council and the church which played such a big part.

‘The general public always come out and take it to their hearts, everyone is so supportive, with poppy appeals and allowing their children to take part.’ He praised the many businesses which had decorated their shopfronts with poppies to promote the appeal.

Why poppies?  During World War One much of the land in France and Belgium that was fought on was churned up and destroyed by battle.

But one of the first plants to reappear were delicate red poppies, which grew on the soil and rubble.

The poppy became a symbol of loss and of hope – a reminder of the sacrifice made by those who died in war and hope for the future.

Paper versions of the flower are now sold to raise money to support members of the armed forces, veterans and their families.