Hundreds lined Watford town centre on 8 November for the Remembrance parade, two minutes' silence and wreaths at the Peace Memorial. Pictures from the day.

Hundreds of people lined the streets of Watford town centre on Remembrance Sunday, 8 November, for a parade to the Peace Memorial, two minutes’ silence and the laying of wreaths. The service at the memorial was led by the Elected Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor, and the Chairman of the Council, Councillor Sohail Bashir, Watford Borough Council said.

The parade set off from the town centre, and the crowd gathered at the memorial for the silence, the wreaths and the service. The Watford Band played the Last Post.

A man in red civic robes and a chain of office carries a poppy wreath, walking beside a man in a blue and gold gown and tricorn hat, with a crowd behind them in the town centre
A civic procession carries a poppy wreath through the town centre to the Peace Memorial. Photo: supplied by Watford Borough Council

Who laid wreaths

Alongside the council, wreaths were laid by:

  • the Watford branch of the Royal British Legion
  • representatives from each of the emergency services
  • Gurkha ex-servicemen
  • the Interfaith Association
A piper in tartan and a feather bonnet leads the parade along a road, followed by a mace bearer in a tricorn hat, a woman in red robes and people in dark coatsA piper in tartan walks along a tree-lined pavement under autumn leaves, with the parade following behind him

2 photos, swipe or scroll. Photos: supplied by Watford Borough Council

What the Mayor said

“Remembrance Sunday is a time for us to reflect on the extraordinary courage, sacrifice and selflessness of those who served, and those who never returned home,” said Mr Taylor. “Behind every name remembered is a life, a family and a story that must never be forgotten.

“Seeing so many people standing shoulder to shoulder in Watford, united in a moment of reflection, was incredibly moving. It is a powerful reminder that remembrance belongs to every generation and every part of our community. As we honour those who gave so much for the freedoms we enjoy today, we also renew our shared responsibility to build a future of peace, understanding and hope.”

An officer in ceremonial dress uniform with a peaked cap talks to a line of veterans wearing berets and medals, some holding poppy wreathsAn officer in ceremonial dress uniform inspects a line of sea cadets in white caps, with crowds and town centre buildings behindAn officer in ceremonial dress uniform and a soldier in camouflage face a line of army cadets in beretsA veteran in a slouch hat and green blazer with a row of medals salutes, with other veterans behind himA veteran in a black beret stands beside a yellow Royal British Legion standard and a Union flagA cornet player wearing a Watford Band badge plays, beside a sea cadet in a cap reading TS Renown SCCRows of sea cadets in white caps with red poppies and TS Renown SCC cap tallies stand to attentionChildren in youth group uniforms lower their coloured flags to the ground as a cornet player plays, with sea cadets lowering a standard beside them

8 photos, swipe or scroll. Photos: supplied by Watford Borough Council

The Tommy figures and Armistice Day

The council is also marking remembrance with its annual tribute of ‘Tommy’ silhouette figures of First World War soldiers placed around the town. Details are on the Watford Borough Council website.

Armistice Day is on Wednesday 11 November. The times of the other services held across the town this year, at Leavesden, Oxhey and Watford Heath, are on our Remembrance Sunday in Watford page. Earlier in the week Watford’s MP, Matt Turmaine, placed a cross for the town’s war dead at Westminster.