WOKINGHAM will pay its respects to members of the armed forces who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty this weekend.
Most churches will hold services that include a two-minute silence at 11am, and there are also gatherings and parades around village war memorials. Here we round-up some of the events taking place on Sunday.
Arborfield
A parade will leave the Arborfield Royal British Legion club in Eversley Road from 10.30am on Sunday, November 12, marching to the village memorial for 10.45am. A short act of remembrance will be held at the memorial and will then be followed by refreshments at the Royal British Legion.
Beech Hill
The act of remembrance will take place in the village on Sunday, November 12. The traditional gathering for the 11am armistice will take place from 10.30am in Beech Hill Memorial Hall.
Earley
The church of Earley St Peter’s in Church Road will hold a Remembrance Service that starts at 10.50am and takes place around the war memorial in the church grounds. It will end around 11.30am.
Finchampstead
There will be a parish-wide Remembrance service at St Eligius’ Church, Arborfield Green at 10.50am on November 12. Parking is limited so visitors are encouraged to car-share where possible. A traditional outdoor service will take place at the War Memorial by Finchampstead Memorial Park at 3pm.
The usual morning services at St James’, St Mary and St John’s will not take place on Remembrance Sunday, except for St James’ 8am Holy Communion.
Hurst
St Nicholas Church in Hurst is home to the village’s war memorial. It will hold a service on Remembrance Sunday from 10.45am. Visitors will be joined by the Royal British Legion and uniformed groups.
Shinfield
The village’s churches and uniformed organisations will be joining forces for an act of Remembrance which will be held at the School Green Centre. A parade from the Health Centre at 10.30am, before the service at 10.50am. A two-minute silence will be observed while groups and individuals will be able to lay their tributes. The service ends at 11.45am, with refreshments in the School Green Centre afterwards. There will be no 10am services at Shinfield Baptist or Shinfield St Mary’s.
Sindlesham
Sindlesham Baptist Church will hold a remembrance Sunday service from 10.30am.
Sonning
St Andrew’s Church in Sonning will form the focal point for the village’s Act of Remembrance. It will hold a special service starting at 10.30am.
Spencers Wood
St Michael and All Angels Church will hold a family service at 10.30am, followed by a procession and act of remembrance at the War Memorial in front of the church at 11am.
Swallowfield
A Remembrance Day service will be held at the village’s War Memorial starting at 10.15am. After the short service there will be a procession to All Saints church in the village, where a Remembrance Service will take place from 10.45am. The roads around the War Memorial will be closed for the duration of the service.
Twyford
A special service which will be held at St Mary’s Church in Station Road. Starting at 10.30am, it will bring together local Scouts for a parade from Waitrose to the church. Hundreds of people take to the streets of the village to join in the short act of remembrance led by the church’s clergy and include wreath-laying by local groups and dignitaries.
Wargrave
St Mary’s Wargrave will hold a Remembrance service, featuring guest speaker Major General Rob Thomson CBE DSO, at 9.45am, as well as a Royal British Legion service on Mill Green at 10.40am. St Peter’s, Knowl Hill, will conduct its own service at 10.45am.
Winnersh
St Mary the Virgin in Winnersh will have their normal 9.30am Holy Communion Service, which will include a short Act of Remembrance.
Wokingham town
Remembrance is a busy time in Wokingham town with several events taking place. As ever, there will be a civic parade forming up outside the town hall from 2.35pm on Sunday, November 12. This makes its way along Rose Street to All Saints Church where there is a service of remembrance. Taking part will be the mayoral party, dignitaries, Scouts, Guides and other uniformed organisations, all honouring those who sacrificed their lives for our freedom on this national day of remembrance.
Any organisations wishing to take part in the parade must register their interest with the Civic Officer in advance at civic@wokingham-tc.gov.uk or 0118 974 0882.
Wokingham Without
St Sebastian’s Church in Wokingham will hold a series of special services on Sunday, November 12.
An all-age service will start at 10am, leading to an act of remembrance at the War Graves, starting at 10.50am. Then, at 11.15am, there will be a shortened service of Holy Communion.
Refreshments will be served in the church hall after the War Graves two-minute silence.
Woodley
A service of remembrance will take place at 10am at St John The Evangelist Church in Church Road. Similar services will take place at 10.15am at Woodley Baptist Church, 10.30am in Christ Church, Crockhamwell Road and also St James in Kingfisher Drive. A service of remembrance will be held at St John Bosco from 10am.
A Gathering of Remembrance takes place at the War Memorial at 11am on November 11 each year. The gathering is open to all and Woodley Town Council, local schools, community groups and other organisations lay wreaths and observe the two-minute silence.
