The Abingdon-on-Thames Act of Remembrance began with a service at St Helen’s Church. The civic party left the Guildhall and followed the mace-bearer to the church. During the first hymn, the standards were taken to the front and placed near the altar.

As the service continued, people gathered along the High Street and around the war memorial. Fiona from Compassionate Café had brought a wreath on behalf of her organisation and the families who use the café some of whom have links with the armed services.

Members of Rotary in Abingdon handed out orders of service to the public. By 10:30, the triangle around the war memorial was filling up, and four soldiers took up positions around the memorial.

Abingdon Town Band started playing as the procession from the church approached. The procession was led by soldiers from nearby Dalton Barracks, whose main site is due to cease military operations and be vacated in 2031. Behind them came various cadet, scout and guide organisations.

Some brought wreaths to be presented at the war memorial during the ceremony.

Once everyone had arrived, Abingdon Town Band played solemn music before the crowd stood in silence. Revd Dr Jennifer Brown, the town rector, read prayers, followed by the exhortation from a member of the armed forces: “They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old…”

The Last Post was then played on the trumpet, followed by two minutes’ silence, after which organisations laid their wreaths at the memorial.

Speakers had been positioned along the High Street in the hope that people who could not see the ceremony could still hear it.

After the singing of the national anthem, people moved to the pavements to watch and cheer the procession.

The procession marched past County Hall and saluted the Mayor of Abingdon, Cllr Andrew Skinner, Felicity Dick DL, Deputy Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, and the commanding officer. Other councillors and dignitaries also stood outside County Hall. The march-past was led by soldiers from Dalton Barracks,

followed by the many cadet and uniformed organisations.

At the war memorial, the wreaths are there for everyone to see, along with crosses with the names of Abingdon people who died in past conflicts. Throughout the ceremony, leaves fell from the trees on what was, a cool, dry morning.