WW1 Beacon of Light

This year’s Remembrance Day marked the centenary of the end of the First World War. A weekend of events in Dacorum culminated in the lighting of a ‘Beacon of Light’ in St Mary’s Square, Hemel Hempstead. The event was organised by Dacorum Borough Council as part of the ‘Battle’s Over’ national tribute on Sunday, 11 November.

An evening service at St Mary’s Church in Hemel Hempstead brought the day’s events to an end. St. Mary’s Church bell ringers rang out along with other churches in the UK and overseas.

More than 1000 beacons were lit simultaneously across the UK at 7pm to symbolise the hope and light of peace following the dark days of war.

Earlier in the day, hundreds of people turned out for a Remembrance Day parade organised by The Royal British Legion from Hemel Hempstead town centre to the War Memorial in Boxmoor, followed by a two-minute silence at 11.00am and a service at St John’s Church.

RAF Halton, other forces personnel, veterans, dignitaries, council officers and councillors (including the Mayor of Dacorum Cllr Rosie Sutton), air cadets, army cadets, scouts, Beavers and Rainbows plus many residents of Hemel Hempstead and its surrounding areas took part in the parade and service.

The Mayor of Dacorum, Cllr Rosie Sutton said ‘On such a day marked with sadness I am proud that the Borough of which I am the Mayor, has shown real dedication and commitment to what 100 years remembrance means to us.’