Thousands gather across Essex for Remembrance Sunday
Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 9 Nov, 13:28 · Archive
Large crowds in Basildon, Colchester and Chelmsford paid respects on Remembrance Sunday, with parades, services and wreaths laid at war memorials.
Large crowds gathered across Essex on Remembrance Sunday to pay respects to fallen servicemen and women. Events were held in Basildon, Colchester and Chelmsford, with thousands of people, including veterans and serving military personnel, attending parades and services.
In Basildon town centre, Mayor Sam Journet led the commemorations. He said: 'Seeing our veterans, serving personnel, community groups and residents come together to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice was genuinely moving.' Among those taking part were teenagers Connie Barnes, 16, and Eli, 14, great-grandchildren of D-Day veteran Don Sheppard, who wore their great-grandfather's medals in the parade for the first time after his death aged 104 in September 2024.
Colchester, which hosts the 16 Air Assault Brigade at Merville Barracks, attracted thousands of attendees. The city is home to between 3,500 and 4,000 military personnel, many of whom attended. A parade along the High Street saw soldiers march alongside veterans and youth organisations, led by the Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas.
In Chelmsford, hundreds lined Duke Street to observe the parade, service and two-minute silence. Marching bands and representatives of local uniformed organisations took part. The Boys' Brigade read the poem 'For the Fallen', and representatives from Christian, Jewish, Sikh, Hindu and Muslim communities led prayers. The Mayor of Chelmsford, Marie Goldman MP and Chief Constable Rachel Nolan laid wreaths at the War Memorial.
Chelmford also marked its first-ever Poppy Festival this year, featuring 75,000 handcrafted poppies displayed at locations across the city and South Woodham Ferrers as a tribute to the Armed Forces.
How it is being reported
- Photos show Chelmsford paying respects as hundreds attend annual Remembrance Sunday parade and serviceMarching bands, representatives of the Armed Forces and local uniformed organisations paraded through the cityEssexLive · 9 Nov, 13:00
- Thousands gather as Colchester honours the fallen on Remembrance SundayThousands of people, old and young, paid their respects on a day which has always been of huge importance to the city.Colchester Gazette · 8 Nov, 16:36
- Crowds honour the fallen at Basildon Remembrance Sunday eventsHuge crowds filled Basildon town centre to honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country, during Remembrance Sunday commemorations across the borough.Echo (Basildon) · 8 Nov, 15:24
In this story: Basildon · Colchester · Chelmsford · Don Sheppard · Sam Journet · 16 Air Assault Brigade · Essex
This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log
Comments (0)