Residents are being invited to join together in Bicester’s Market Square to mark Remembrance Sunday on November 10th.
Bicester Town Council will once again lead the town’s tributes on Remembrance Day, joining the rest of the country to honour the service men and women who lost their lives in the First and Second world wars, and other conflicts around the world.
Hundreds of people from uniformed organisations and local military units will take part in the event, which begins at 10.30am, with a parade from St Edburg’s Church to Market Square, where the outdoor service will be held. The parade will be led by ATC 2507 (Bicester) Marching Band with members of 1 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps and the Royal British Legion.
Once in the Market Square, they will be lined up by the Parade Marshal from 1 Regt RLC in readiness for the service and wreath laying, which starts at 10.55am. Wreathes will be laid by the Deputy Lieutenant Miranda Markham, Bicester’s Mayor Cllr Damien Maguire, a Royal British Legion representative and Calum Miller, the MP for Bicester & Woodstock. During the wreath laying, Bicester Military Wives Choir will perform.
Afterwards the Mayor, the Commanding Officer of 1 Regt RLC Lt Col Lucinda Butler MBE and the Deputy Lieutenant will take the salute, before the parade marches back to the church. At this point, groups including 1st Bicester Intrepid Scout, 7th Bicester Scout Group, Bicester Detachment Army Cadet Force, 1st Langford Village Scout Group, 1st Southwold Scout Group, Police Cadets, Fire station Cadets and other organisations will join the parade.
Once at the church an Honour Guard will receive wreaths from representatives of other local organisations, individuals and companies which will be laid at the memorial. A service of remembrance will then take place in St Edburg’s Church from 12 noon, led by The Rev Peter Wright.
Mayor Cllr Damien Maguire said:
“Remembrance Sunday is always a significant day in the council’s calendar. It’s a time for us to reflect and pay our respects to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. We might be uncomfortable, cold and wet for a short while, which was a lesser sacrifice than that of the people we are gathered to remember.
“Bicester has a long historical connection to the military and as always this event is a collaboration with Bicester Garrison, St Edburg’s Church and the Royal British Legion. It’s particularly poignant for me, as I served in the British Army for five years, and Remembrance Sunday was always a very important day to us all.
“Two years ago the council made the decision to move the majority of the Remembrance Service outdoors to the Market Square to a bigger space so that more people could take part. With that in mind, I would like to invite residents to join us on Sunday, November 10, to mark this special day.”
The 2024 Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal is now underway with stands at Bicester supermarkets Tesco and Sainsbury’s, Cherwell Valley Services, Bicester Village as well as street collections across the town and surrounding villages.
Last year, residents of Bicester and District Area raised a record £70,143.50 for the charity.
Chirs Dalby, Poppy Appeal Organiser, thanked residents and volunteers for helping to raise the “staggering amount”. He said: We would like to express our sincere gratitude for the phenomenal generosity of the people of Bicester and District.” If anyone can help this year please email Bicesterpoppyappeal@gmail.com
For more information about the town’s Remembrance Day event view https://www.bicester.gov.uk/
