Free parking for poignant service of Remembrance

This year’s Remembrance Service in Ashford town centre will be particularly poignant as it marks the centenary of the start of the First World War.

Sunday’s service will include a traditional service and wreathlaying ceremony at the Ashford Memorial Garden’s war memorial, off Church Road, shortly before 11am.

The Chaplain and Vicar of St Mary’s parish church, Canon Colin Preece, will lead a hymn and a prayer before a two-minute silence at 11am.

Guests will be invited to sing the National Anthem before a parade by ex-service organisations and youth groups around the town centre.

Everyone is welcome to attend and those taking part will include Ashford MP Damian Green, the mayor of Ashford, Cllr John Link plus members of the Sea, Air and Army Cadets.

Ashford Borough Council (ABC) is offering free parking in the Vicarage Lane car park for those attending the service.

Guests will not be able to park in Church Road, around the Ashford Gateway and Memorial Gardens between 8am and noon for the duration of the service.

Visitors are advised to take advantage of the free parking, which can also be found in the Edinburgh Road car park.

For more details about ABCs free parking initiatives visit www.ashford.gov.uk/freeparking.

order of service

10.10am - Senior personnel and wreath holders assemble in St Mary’s Parish Rooms in the Churchyard

10.20am - Members of organisations assemble in the Memorial Gardens

10.40am - Mayoral and civic party and wreath holders move to the Memorial Gardens led by the piper

10.45am - Chaplain invites wreath holders to lay their wreaths

10.55am - First Hymn - O God our help in Ages Past

11am - Last Post to be sounded and a two minute silence, followed by a Royal British Legion representative giving the Exhortation

11.02am - Reveille followed by Kohima prayer

Picture: Imperial War Museum