The day commenced with the route of the parade being cleared by employees of Durham County Council, the erection of the saluting dais in the Market Place, road closures and hostile mitigation measures being put in place. The various units of His Majesty’s Forces assembled in Millennium Square from 08:30 hours and were briefed very concisely by the RSM of 8 Rifles WO 1 Shaw.
The parade was assembled with the detachment of D Company 8 Rifles marched to Palace Green led by the Band and Bugles of Durham Army Cadet Force. It is always a special moment when one hears the Bugle marches which we all associate with the Durham Light Infantry! After a short interval the remainder of HM Forces including Army and Air Cadets marched to Palace Green. Those units were:
HMS Bulwark. The Light Dragoons. Guards Training Company, The Infantry Training Centre. 3 Regiment Royal Army Medical Services. 1st Military Intelligence Battalion, 150 Provost Company, 1st Regiment Royal Military Police. 607 (County of Durham) Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force RAF Leeming.
A short service of Remembrance was conducted by Doctor the Rev’ Will Foulger of St. Nicholas’ Church, with a Piper to play laments, a cornet player from the Durham Constabulary Brass Band to play ‘Last Post’ and ‘Reveillez’ and myself to recite three verses of ‘For the Fallen’. I have received much positive feed-back regarding this short and simple service. The institution of this Market Place service was to make our Act of Remembrance as inclusive as possible, and facilitate the hundreds of people already assembled to be able to acknowledge and participate in the Great Silence at 11:00 hours.
Just after 11:30 hours the parade marched from Palace Green through the Market Place where the Salute was taken by His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant for County Durham Dame Susan Snowdon DCVO, the Right Worshipful Mayor Durham Councillor Gary Hutchinson and commissioned representatives of the armed forces. The successful timing and co-ordination of this vital element of the parade was due to professionalism of members of Durham Constabulary.
The Civilian Services comprised Durham Constabulary, HM Prison Service, Nursing staff from the University Hospital of North Durham and a ‘Colour Party’ representing Fire and Rescue Services from Scotland, Northumberland, County Durham and Darlington, West Yorkshire, Merseyside, South Yorkshire, South Wales, Leicestershire, North Wales, the National Association of Retired Firefighters and London Fire Brigade Retired Members’ Association.
The armed forces dismissed in Millennium Square and the Civilian Services in Claypath. Participants were invited to a curry lunch at Durham Masonic Hall, Durham Prison Officers’ Club and the Radisson Blu hotel.
The organizing group gratefully acknowledge the support of the Parish Council for the City of Durham in the successful planning and implementation of this year’s Remembrance parade.
I am,
Yours sincerely,
Arthur
Arthur C Lockyear MBE.
Chair Remembrance parade Organizing Group.
Freeman of Durham City.
Lest We Forget.
