Remembrance Day in Oxford draws in 2,000 people for event

The day began at 10am with the gathering of military units, organisations and community groups between Beaumont Street and St Giles.

Welcome speeches from the lord mayor, Lubna Arshad, and city rector of Oxford, Anthony Buckley, were followed by a hymn and prayer.

Mr Buckley's voice resounded: "Let us confess to God the sins and shortcomings of our world."

Two Oxfordshire MPs laid down wreaths. (Image: Ed Nix)

READ MORE: Oxford Remembrance Sunday ceremony takes place in St Giles

Spectator Pavan Sukhdev, 63, a former student of University College, Oxford, said attending "brought back memories" and Meena Menon, 64, added: "It's great for the community.

"I think the next generation needs to know about it because this is history and its important."

Oxfordshire MPs Layla Moran and Anneliese Dodds were among those who laid wreaths at the St Giles War Memorial.

The lord mayor's speech touched upon the conflict in the Middle East.

The lord mayor gave a speech. (Image: Ed Nix)

She discussed "calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and paving the way for enduring peace".

It is not clear that all attendees shared in Ms Arshad's resolve that this was an appropriate occasion for the remarks, with a veteran mumbling to the Oxford Mail that she "should not be making any political statements".

Army veteran, Carl Davis, 57, who had served in the armed forces for 26 years suggested that events such as the occasion today were vitally important.

"This is about remembering the sacrifice that people made for this country," he said.

All weekend services took place peacefully. (Image: Ed Nix)

"Remembrance started as being centred around World War One but now it's for anyone who served Britain for our way of life."

Two former serving officers, Neil Unsworth OBE, and Angela Unsworth MBE, also recalled some of their own experiences.

Mr Unsworth, a former infantry officer who said he had been involved in "all the main conflicts of the last 30 years" recounted how he had had many friends who died serving in the British Army.

He agreed with his wife, a former RAF officer, who said: "What's important about today is that we're here for things like protecting the freedoms to protest.

"What better way to exemplify that freedom than what happened yesterday in London."

Two former servicemen also shared their thoughts. (Image: Noor Qurashi)

Mr Unsworth added: "You won't find anyone who's a greater advocate for peace and ceasefire than someone who's been in combat because we know what it's like."

The Thames Valley Police force confirmed that all events were marked peacefully and respectfully across the weekend, in light of dozens of right-wing counter-protesters being arrested by police in London during yesterday's march for Palestine.

A police officer in Oxford reported that the event had around the same number of attendees as in previous years which was at around 2,000.