Mayor of Bognor Regis' Weekly Briefing: Town marks Remembrance Sunday with service and parade
I wanted to start this week’s column by thanking all the hundreds of residents who lined the streets around the Town Hall, to join us for this year’s Bognor Regis Remembrance Day Service and Parade, which took place last Sunday.
It was a great honour to be present as Mayor of the Town. The event, as always, was an extremely poignant reminder of the sacrifices made, and that continue to be made, by our Armed Forces, both past, present and future. The Parade, which was as large as I’ve seen in recent years, featured Veterans, Cadets and Service personnel. With VE and VJ Day commemorations having taken place earlier this year, it was very fitting for these to be included within Father Keith Hodge’s opening words, and we thank him for delivering such a beautiful Service for us once again. The Town Council were delighted to have been offered use of the Poppy Wall, by the Bognor Regis Armed Forces Day Committee, which hung wonderfully over the balcony, featuring the hundreds of poppies that were lovingly crocheted and knitted by members of the community, for the Armed Forces Day celebrations in May. A big thank you to them for allowing us to make further use of this fantastic visual piece of community collaboration.
During the Service, wreaths were laid by dignitaries including the Deputy Lieutenant of West Sussex, Mr. Gary Shipton, as well as Chairs of surrounding Parishes and representatives of West Sussex and Arun District Councils. I had the honour of laying a wreath on behalf of Bognor Regis Town Council, alongside my Mayor’s Cadet and the Town Clerk, with Service Associations, local organisations and Cadets also laying wreaths to pay their own tributes to our Fallen Heroes.
A very big thank you to everyone who was involved, including Mike Monk from the Royal Air Force Association Bognor Regis and Staff Sergeant Aden Huff for their assistance in organising and leading the Parade. Veteran Nigel Ede, Graham Paul and the Salvation Army Band, our bugler, Alf Hughes and Town Council staff for organising the Service, including our Town Force Team.
Following the Service, wreath layers, dignitaries and participating organisations were invited into the Town Hall for light refreshments, which served as an opportunity to reflect further on the importance of the day.
The Town Council also marked Armistice Day with a short Service on Tuesday 11th November, which included the reading of the Exhortation and Kohima by our Town Crier and The Last Post and Reveille, played by Graham Paul. Veterans, Town Councillors and Town Council staff joined us to observe the two-minute silence. We will Remember Them.
Looking ahead, and plans are in full swing for Bognor Regis Town Council’s Christmas Lights Switch-On, taking place in the Town Centre on Saturday 29th November. ‘The Big Switch at 6’ promises plenty of festive fun and entertainment, all building up to the illuminations themselves! From 4pm, come and join us for Snow and Ice Queen stilt walkers, the return of the popular (and dazzling) Mirror Men who will be serving festive treats, and taking to the stage will be Daniel James from 80’s band ‘Yell’ before we welcome ‘K-Pop Superstars’ who will be performing hits from the popular Netflix film ‘K-Pop Demon Hunters’. The Town Crier and I will join them, alongside Father Christmas himself for the switching on of the brand new Christmas lights, in what promises to be a spectacular afternoon of festive cheer in Bognor Regis! We’ll see you there