Local schoolchildren were among those joined by Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Surrey, Mr Michael More-Molyneux at Farnham’s Armistice Day service on Friday 11 November at Gostrey Meadow.

Shortly before 11am, members of the British Legion and reservists from the Princess of Wales’ Royal Regiment paraded to Gostrey Meadow’s war memorial. They were met by schoolchildren, residents, community representatives and local dignitaries to remember those who have lost their lives serving in the country’s armed forces, particularly those with links to Farnham and the surrounding area.

After a few words of welcome from the Mayor, the Chairman of the Farnham Branch of the British Legion, Roger Brown, read ‘What is Remembrance’. This was followed by the reading of They Shall Not Grow Old by the Lord Lieutenant and Heidi Barber a pupil from Weydon School.

At precisely 11am, the standard bearer lowered the flag and Laura James, a bugler from Alder Valley Brass Band and two sea cadets from T S Swiftsure played The Last Post. All those in attendance observed a two-minute silence which concluded with the playing of the Reveille.

The silence was followed by the reading of the Kohima Epitaph by Percy Bartlett and poems, which children from St. Andrew’s and South Farnham School had written especially for the occasion.

Councillor John Ward, the Mayor of Farnham, says: “As Her Majesty the Queen’s representative in Surrey, the Lord Lieutenant, Mr Michael More-Molyneux has responsibilities across the county so we are privileged that he chose to join us in Farnham to commemorate Armistice Day this year.

“Armistice Day continues to be an important day in Farnham’s calendar, where young and old and people from all walks of life remember the sacrifices made by members of our armed forces,” says the Mayor.

After the ceremony, the pupils joined the Mayor, Lord Lieutenant and other guests for a reception in the Council Chamber.