Remembrance Sunday

Author: Chris Butterfield 

Each year a wreath is laid on behalf of the Freemen during the Service of Remembrance at the war memorial in St Giles’. Over the years various Freemen have performed this task, and this year it was my turn – the first time I had represented the Freemen in that way. It was a most interesting as well as moving experience.

Arrangements were co-ordinated by the City Council, whose crest appeared on the front of the order of service. And the Town Hall staff were as attentive and helpful as ever. The Town Hall was open from 9 until 10 o’clock for the collection of gowns. I then made my way to St John’s College, the assembly point. Here I was to collect our wreath, which I had ordered for delivery to the Town Hall, where it had been stored with most of the others. I was offered what looked like a take-away pizza box, but sure enough it did contain the wreath, with a label on which had been written the text I had requested beforehand. I was also given a booklet containing the order of service.

All those laying wreaths were gathered in the North Quadrangle, together with a few others like former Lord Mayors. I was very pleased that among those others was Mandy, daughter of our former Entertainments Secretary Bryan Keen; she said she travels each year from their new home in Ammanford to attend this and Oxford town twinning events. So it was good that another Freeman could attend, duly robed in a Freeman’s gown from the Town Hall.

As the time for the ceremony approached, we were called forward in turn by David Hawkins, the Civic Lead for Member and Committee Services. He lined us up in the order in which we were to process up to the war memorial. I was a little surprised when we walked out into St Giles’ as the number of spectators beyond the barriers was not that great. However, although the North Quadrangle is as its name implies the quadrangle nearest to the war memorial, it is still some distance away, and as we approached the memorial the numbers became greater and people were standing first two deep and then three and more deep.

At 10:45 the Lord Mayor Mike Rowley welcomed those present, followed by the City Rector Anthony Buckley, who conducted the service. An opening hymn was followed by prayers of the congregation and then by prayers and statements of four representatives of different faiths and communities – Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and Humanist. The occasion had clearly been planned to be as inclusive as possible, and although not participating in the service, the Oxford Quakers had written a statement that appeared as a preface to the order of service.

Then a piper played the lament Flowers of the Forest before the Last Post was followed by two minutes’ silence and then the Reveille. The second part of the service featured two more hymns and prayers that concluded with a blessing by the Bishop of Oxford. Finally all present sang the national anthem, and guided by David Hawkins we regrouped for the return to St John’s College.

However, the return was not immediate, as the civic party led by the Lord Mayor were to make their way to a dais part way down St Giles’, with the rest of us flanking them. Here they took the salute from the march past of the many organised groups that had been present, representing regiments, cadet forces, brownies and many others. I took note of whether they were marching in step and have to say that the only ones to whom I would award full marks were the Salvation Army band, who had provided all the music for the service.

Our invitation was to return to St John’s College to have coffee and biscuits in the dining hall, where I bade farewell to Mandy. There was no need for me to return to the Town Hall, as all gowns, both civic and Freemen, were collected and taken there by the ever attentive and helpful Town Hall staff.

For me it had been a first and a memorable one. It is good that we share the privilege between Freemen from year to year. But I shall not be sorry when my turn comes round again.