Remembrance Sunday Service and Parade
Dover War Memorial
Sunday 14 November 2021
At 11.00am on Remembrance Sunday Dover men, women and children gathered at the People of Dover’s War Memorial to honour the memory of all the service men and women who gave their lives in armed conflicts past and present. Over 60 wreaths were laid during the service, covering the memorial in red poppies, as a token of the Town’s thanks for the sacrifices made to secure our peace and freedom.
The Town Mayor of Dover Councillor Gordon Cowan lays a wreath.
The parade of standards, veterans and other organisations marched to the War Memorial in front of Maison Dieu House where the two minutes silence was observed with Civic Leaders. The wreath laying was led by the Deputy Lieutenant of Kent, Col. Brian O’Gorman (Rtd), on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen, followed by the Town Mayor of Dover, Councillor Gordon Cowan, the leader of Dover District Council, Cllr Trevor Bartlett, the MP for Dover and Deal Mrs Natalie Elphicke and on behalf of the Government of Flanders. Wreaths were then laid by representatives of the uniformed services and veterans associations. Everyone was welcome to pay their tribute including local organisations and the families of the fallen.
Our thanks go to all those who attended our service to remember the fallen including the White Cliffs Branch of the Royal British Legion who set out the Garden of Remembrance and collected for the Poppy Appeal in all weathers over the last two weeks. We are also grateful to Commander Nick Chatwin RN (Rtd) for reading the Exhortation and the Kohima Epitaph, Parade Marshal Mr Alan Tinker of the Dover and Deal Sea Cadets, Mr John Harknett of the Royal Green Jackets Association for playing the last post, Betteshanger Colliery Welfare Band for leading the music, the Standard Bearers, and also the young people of our Cadet forces who attended and acted as sentries during the service.
The Memorial Service was officiated by the Reverend Catherine Tucker Team Rector for the Dover Town Team Ministry and Flt. Lt. Malcom Sawyer, RAFVR (Rtd), Chaplain to the Royal British legion (Dover). In her address Rev. Tucker spoke of the need to remember in such as way as to keep the stories of those who we commemorate alive and continue their work to bring peace.
The service finished with the singing of the National Anthem
The Parade then marched back through the Town to the Market Square where the Mayor took the salute at St. Mary’s Church.
Our picture shows a member of the Royal British Legion White Cliffs Branch hard at work after the service securing the wreaths.