Remembrance event and free parking

Swale Borough Council is organising this year’s civic Service of Remembrance in Sittingbourne on Sunday 10 November.

The council’s Remembrance Sunday service begins at 10am at St Michael’s church, Sittingbourne, and will be followed by a procession through the high street ending at the War Memorial on Central Avenue.

The procession, led by the Royal British Legion Riders, will arrive at the Cenotaph at 11am where the remembrance and the laying of wreaths will take place until 12pm.

They are also offering, one off, free parking in all their car parks across the borough - except for Bourne Place Multi-Storey Car Park - on Sunday 10 November between 8am and 2pm.

Remembrance Sunday can be used as a day to appreciate the service and sacrifice of the Armed Forces, who defended our freedoms and protected us and our way of life.

Central Avenue, from the Police Station to the High Street, and Central Avenue car park will be closed from 9am until 12pm to facilitate the Service of Remembrance and procession.

Cllr Ben J Martin, Mayor of Swale, said:

“We are very proud to be hosting this years’ civic Service of Remembrance in Sittingbourne, alongside community groups and organisations in the borough.

“Services like this are a reminder of the sacrifices people made to keep us safe and protect our way of life and gives us an opportunity to show our appreciation for the Armed Forces.

“I would like to offer a personal thank you to all the people who have, and are, serving in our Armed Forces and to their families who help support them.”

Cllr Richard Palmer, chair of the community and leisure committee at the council, said:

“To support the attendance at Remembrance Sunday services across the borough we will also be offering free parking at our car parks between 8am and 2pm.

“Sadly, government cuts and increasing costs have put a strain on our budget, making offering free parking difficult, but we have worked hard to make it possible this year.

“Anybody who wants to attend a local service on Remembrance Sunday can park for free, take part in the service and spend time with their friends and family without having to worry about paying for parking between 8am and 2pm.”

What is Remembrance Sunday?

Originally Remembrance Day was held on 11th November each year, as First World War hostilities ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. In 1956 the date was fixed as the second Sunday of November. Each year Remembrance Sunday remembers all those who fought and died in any conflict, as well as veterans and soldiers who are still serving for their country.

Why Poppies?

The most recognisable symbol of Remembrance Sunday is the red poppy, which became associated with World War I memorials after scores of the flowers bloomed on the former battlefields of Belgium and northern France. (The phenomenon was depicted in the popular 1915 poem “In Flanders Fields,” by Canadian soldier John McCrae.) In 1921 the newly formed British Legion (now the Royal British Legion), a charitable organisation for veterans, began selling red paper poppies for Armistice Day, and its annual Poppy Appeal has been enormously successful.

Why Two Minutes Silence?

This silent pause gives us an opportunity so that, in perfect stillness, the thoughts of everyone may be concentrated on remembering those who have sacrificed so much. The first minute represents all those who have died; and the second minute is for those who survived.

Where can you park?

To find a car park in Swale, visit https://swale.gov.uk/find-a-car-park

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