Fallen servicemen and women who paid the ultimate price in conflicts across the globe were remembered in West Oxfordshire on Remembrance Sunday.

In Witney hundreds attended the Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial on Church Green and afterwards a church service at St Mary’s.

Witney Gazette:

Witney Town Council said it was "a magnificent turn out".

"Our youth organisations and our Royal British Legion members never fail to impress with their enthusiasm and dedication to the event.

"We'd like to thank everyone that came along and represented the town so well."

During the Act of Remembrance the Last Post was sounded followed by a two-minute silence and then the Reveille.

Witney Gazette:

Individuals, groups and organisations including the air cadets, Scouts, Guides, Brownies, Cubs, Beavers, Girls and Boys Brigades, police cadets, fire cadets, St John's Ambulance, both secondary schools, churches, Town Band and many other organisations were represented in their formations.

The names of at least 28 organisations who laid wreaths at the War Memorial were announced by pupils of Henry Box School and Wood Green School.

They included Witney MP Robert Courts, Mayor of Witney Cllr Liz Duncan, Cllr Julian Cooper, Chairman of West Oxfordshire District Council, and representatives of Oxfordshire County Council.

Witney Gazette:

Around 2,000 people also turned out to pay their respects to the fallen in Carterton.

Following a church service, the RAF Cadet Band together with a squadron of 30 personnel from RAF Brize Norton led the parade back to the War Memorial.

The first wreaths were laid by Councillor Nick Leverton, Mayor of Carterton, and Ron Spurs, Deputy Lieutenant, followed by Group Captain Claire O'Grady, Station Commander RAF Brize Norton.

Witney Gazette:

Councillor Michele Mead laid the wreath on behalf of Robert Courts MP, while other civic dignitaries and a large number of local groups and organisations also laid their tributes.

The Last Post and Reveille were played by a bugler from the RAF Voluntary Band and poignant background music was provided by the Brize Norton Military Wives Choir.

 

 

 

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This story was written by Miranda Norris, she joined the team in 2021 and covers news across Oxfordshire as well as news from Witney.

Get in touch with her by emailing: Miranda.Norris@newsquest.co.uk. Or find her on Twitter: @Mirandajnorris

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