Wreath-laying ceremonies and remembrance services will take place across Cherwell as people gather to remember those who have died and those fighting wars.

Bicester Town Council’s Remembrance Day service and parade will take on a new format this year to ensure it’s more inclusive for the public.

Earlier this year, councillors agreed to make three changes to the structure of the town’s Remembrance Sunday event, on November 12, to allow more people to take part.

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The biggest change is to the parade and outdoor service - this year participants will march twice – firstly to signal the start of the day and again to lead people back to the church for the main service of remembrance.

Hundreds of people from uniformed organisations and local military units will take part in the parade. It will be led by ATC 2507 (Bicester) Marching Band with members of 1 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps and the Royal British Legion.

The parade will march from St Edburg’s Church at about 10.30 am to Market Square where the outdoor service will be held for the first time. Previously the outdoor service took place in front of St Edburg’s Church.

They will be lined up in Market Square by a parade marshal from 1 Regt RLC in readiness for the service and wreath laying which starts at 10:55 a.m. Afterwards, Mayor Harry Knight, the commanding officer of 1 Regt RLC Lt Col Lucinda Butler MBE and deputy lieutenant Miranda Markham will take the salute, before the parade marches back to the church.

With more room available for the outdoor service in Market Square, members of the public are being urged to join.

Wreath laying will also change this year - only local dignitaries will lay wreathes at the outdoor service.

All other groups or individuals can take their wreath to the memorial at St Edburg’s Church and hand it over to the honour guard who will then lay it on their behalf.

The main service of remembrance will take place in St Edburg’s Church from 12 noon.

Banbury Town Council have organised for a parade to depart from the bandstand at 10.15am, being led by serving military, veterans, civic party, dignitaries and cadet forces.

This will be followed by a service of remembrance at St Mary’s Church at 10.45am and a wreath-laying at noon at the war memorial in People’s Park.

Observed every year since 1919, Remembrance Day is marked on the anniversary of the end of World War I on November 11.

Remembrance Sunday falls on the second Sunday of November which means that it will be observed on November 12.

 

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This story was written by Matthew Norman, he joined the team in 2022 as a Facebook community reporter.

Matthew covers Bicester and focuses on finding stories from diverse communities.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Matthew.norman@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @OxMailMattN1