Town Centre Comes to A Standstill for Armistice Service

It was an honour to be involved in the Armistice Service in the town centre yesterday, which saw hundreds of people in town stop to observe the service and pay their respects to fallen soldiers from wars past and present. The services can never fail to be deeply moving, and all involved, from the Standard Bearers to the Salvation Army Band Members and all veterans present combined to ensure that the eleventh hour hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month was marked in fitting fashion.

Prior to the service in town, a service of remembrance was held in the Mayor's Parlour, which we believe may be unique amongst Mayor's Parlours in having a war memorial within the parlour itself. Amongst those present was LCPL Alan Paul Anderson, a serving member of the Royal Military Police who returned from Afghanistan at the end of October. He attended the service with his family including his mother who works for Bedford Borough Council.

I went along to the Poppy Shop in the Harpur Centre after the service in the Town Centre, to give thanks to the volunteers and talk to some of the ever-inspiring veterans who also popped in.