Hundreds gather for Swindon's sunny remembrance service

There was barely room to move as members of the public, representatives from the armed forces, current and old, cadet groups including the Brownies and Scouts, and many others gathered for the annual Remembrance Sunday public procession. 

The ceremony started with a few words from the Mayor's Chaplain Reverend Mark Barrett saying a few words before lone trumpeter Mr. Francis Cowley ushered in the observation of the customary two minutes silence.

The Army Cadet Force Band marching during the Swindon remembrance service (Image: Newsquest)

Veterans lining up ready to lay their wreaths (Image: Newsquest)

After this, dignitaries from Swindon including Mayor Abdul Amin were joined by veterans, the heads of Wiltshire Police and Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue service, as well as the two Swindon MPs Robert Buckland and Justin Tomlinson, and representatives from both Swindon Borough Council and the various parish councils in the town in laying wreaths at the Regent Circus Cenotaph.

Proceedings were accompanied by the Army Cadet Force Band and Swindon Brass Band who provided the musical backing for several hymns like Abide With Me throughout the somber affair. Passages of remembrance, prayers, the national anthem, and a spoken-word reading of an opera song also took place throughout. 

Swindon Brass band and the town's dignitaries (Image: Newsquest)

Once the service had ended there was loud applause as the various regiments marched away up Commercial Road, with the younger participants, in particular, getting loud cheers having stood respectfully for almost an hour.

Once the marching had finished the crowd then dispersed and some remained to lay their own wreaths among those already laid and pay their own private respects at the Cenotaph. 

You can watch the whole ceremony here:

Local Royston Cartwright commented on the event, he said: "On a glorious Sunday morning we could not have asked for better. The people of Swindon turned out in their hundreds, so many in fact that some could not even get into the Circus, and Regent St was packed back to the Savoy.

"I took hundreds of pictures but focused on the younger element. I remember back in 1956 when I was in the Scouts and we walked from Walcot to the town hall. These proud young people are not glorifying war, if anything the opposite is true. As long as the youth of today remember then we will all remember."

South Swindon MP Robert Buckland added: "I was honoured to lay a wreath on behalf of Swindon at the Cenotaph this morning."