This Remembrance Sunday, 13 November, communities across London will come together to commemorate the fallen.
As Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day draw near, many Londoners will be searching for events across the city at which they can pay their respects communally.
There will be a number of services taking place in the capital to commemorate the British and Commonwealth military and civilian servicemen and women who lost their lives in both World Wars and later conflicts.
Here are five significant locations at which you can honour the fallen:
National Service of Remembrance
The Cenotaph, Whitehall – Sunday 13 November
This annual event is the pinnacle of Remembrance services in the UK, with hundreds heading to Whitehall yearly to watch the dignified parade and pay their respects to the fallen.
Whitehall will open to the public at 8am. No tickets are required so all are welcome to watch the ceremony from the pavements along Whitehall and Parliament Street.
At 9am the Royal British Legion detachments will begin the parade on towards the Cenotaph.
At 11am the national two-minute silence will be marked by the firing of guns from King’s Troop on Horse Guards Parade.
There will be video screens around the Cenotaph so if you are thinking of attending the event and space is limited you will be able to view the service using these facilities.
The event will also be broadcast on BBC, Sky and ITV if you wish to observe the event in the privacy of your own home.
Remembrance Sunday Ceremony
Shepherds Bush War Memorial & Fulham War Memorial – Sunday 13 November
If you wish to attend an event with a more local feel, Hammersmith and Fulham will be hosting two Remembrance Parades in their borough this November.
The open-air remembrance service taking place at the Shepherds Bush War Memorial will begin with a procession in Sulgrave Road at 10:35am. It will be attended by Cllr. Daryl Brown, Deputy Mayor of Hammersmith and Fulham.
Following the service there will be a march in Shepherds Bush Road by local Army reservists, Army cadets, the Burma Star Association, faith leaders, Hammersmith Scout groups, Metropolitan Police officers and London Fire Brigade cadets.
The open-air service at the Fulham War Memorial in Vicarage Gardens will follow a similar schedule with a procession begging at 10:35am from Parsons Green.
Hammersmith and Fulham Mayor Cllr. Emma Apthorp is set to attend and there will be a march following the service by military and ex-service groups and local youth organisations across Fulham High Street to Fulham House.
Everyone is welcome to attend these events and the two minute silence will be observed at 11am.
Thomas Tallis Society – A Concert for Remembrance Day
St. Alfege Church, Greenwich – Saturday 12 November
A concert for Remembrance Day will be hosted at St Alfege Church in Greenwich on the evening of Saturday 12 November.
The beautiful church which has stood for over 300 years will welcome a concert by the Thomas Tallis Society Choir, with Regent Brass, to pay homage to the fallen this Remembrance season.
The concert will contain a programme of music featuring a number of different instruments such as a brass band, a string quintet and a tenor soloist.
Everyone is welcome at this event, tickets range from £10 – £16 and can be purchased online or on the door.
The concert will begin at 7:30pm on Saturday 12 November, so whether you are local to Greenwich or just want to be involved in a more musical service this could be an option for you.
Service of Remembrance at St. Paul’s
St. Paul’s Cathedral – Sunday 13 November
This Remembrance Sunday, St. Paul’s Cathedral are encouraging Londoners to remember those who have lost their lives in war and conflict.
To commemorate this they will be hosting A Service of Remembrance with The Commemoration of the Fallen.
This event is described as: “a special service to remember those who have lived and died in defence of justice and freedom in the service of humankind” and will take place from 10:15am – 11:15am.
There will be an additional service held from 11:45am – 1:00pm called ‘Requiem Eucharist for the Fallen’.
This will also be a special service to remember those who have died in the war in which those that attend will ask for God’s help and blessing to continue to work together in justice and peace.
These services will be open to all, you do not have to be a practicing member of the Church of England to attend.
If you are unfamiliar with the service on the day you will be able to pick up an easy-to-follow order of service at the beginning to guide you through each part.
These services will be unticketed and free to attend so all will be welcome to pay their respects as part of the community this Remembrance Sunday at St. Paul’s.
Brent Borough Civic Remembrance Service
Barham Park, Wembley – Sunday 13 November
Scouts in Brent will be taking part in a parade to observe Remembrance Sunday and show their support for the sacrifices made by servicemen and women.
The parade will take place at 1:30pm in the South East corner of Barham Park, Harrow Road and there will be a procession of Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers.
Scouts have always played a huge part in services and parades to commemorate Remembrance across the UK as, during the First World War, Scouts volunteered to support the war effort.
They learned skills such as working on farms, fetching hospital supplies and guarding railway lines.
The Scouts’ annual involvement in Remembrance Sunday services across the nation is a constant reminder of their partnership with the armed forces and the good work they carried out during wartime.
If you intend to pay your respects with your community there are a number of ways to honour the fallen in the capital this November.
Although if you would prefer to observe Remembrance Sunday alone and avoid the crowds, the BBC will be broadcasting the Royal British Legion’s Festival of Remembrance this Saturday 12 November at 9pm.
Featured image credit: Pixabay
