Remembrance Sunday: Sawbridgeworth pays tribute to fallen with parade followed by service at Great St Mary’s Church
A heartfelt display of community spirit saw more than 100 people gather for Sawbridgeworth’s Remembrance Sunday parade on Sunday (Nov 10).
The parade set off from Bell Street car park at 2.45pm, led by the air cadets band of 309 (Sawbridgeworth) Squadron, Air Training Corps under the command of the parade marshal, Flying Officer Jaden Barber.
Behind them marched youth groups, including the Sawbridgeworth and District Girl Guides, Sawbridgeworth Scouts and representatives of the town’s fire and rescue service and neighbourhood police, all cheered by residents lining the route.
Upon reaching Great St Mary’s Church, the parade attendees filed in for a short service conducted by the Rev Alison Jackson from St James the Great Church, High Wych.
A two-minute silence was observed, initiated by Last Post played on a bugle by Tim Bray from the 1st Sawbridgeworth Scout Group.
This solemn moment was followed by the laying of wreaths at the town’s memorial in the churchyard.
Deputy town mayor Cllr Salvatore Pagdades, standing in for mayor Cllr Reece Smith, who is recovering after undergoing an emergency operation in a Spanish hospital, laid the first wreath.
Andrew Passfield, an honorary freeman of the town for his services to the Royal British Legion, laid the next wreath on behalf of the town. Labour town councillor Steve Smith, representing Hertford and Stortford Labour MP Josh Dean, followed suit, along with numerous local groups.
The ceremony continued inside the church with a remembrance service featuring readings by Cllr Pagdades, Cllr Eric Buckmaster and Pastor Gary Hanson. The service concluded with the singing of the National Anthem.
Sawbridgeworth town clerk Chris Hunt expressed gratitude to the air cadets and to the parents and children for their participation, making the parade a memorable and special event for the community.
On Saturday, the town’s annual Nostalgia Day was held, starting with a poppy wreath-laying ceremony at the memorial at the former RAF Sawbridgeworth airfield at Shingle Hall, Trimms Green.
On the party’s return to Sawbridgeworth Memorial Hall, another wreath-laying took place by Frank Lee, who was a veteran of the Arctic Convoy.
Sawbridgeworth-based youth group Diverse Performing Arts then entertained those gathered with songs to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day. A paying bar was open and refreshments were available.
Organiser Hazel Mead, whose late husband David founded the event, reported that donations on the day amounted to just over £1,000 and she said she was “very pleased with that”.
