Hove in the Past: Remembrance Sunday 9 November 2014 (100 years)

12 January 2016

Remembrance Sunday 9 November 2014 (100 years)

Judy Middleton

In Hove Remembrance Day observance for the wider public took the form of a brief procession before a wreath laying ceremony at the War Memorial in Grand Avenue. Afterwards the procession moved on to All Saints Church in The Drive where a special service took place.

The groups taking part in the procession were predominantly young with cadets representing the various services and they foregathered at the entrance to Hove Town Hall. A band played in front of the procession; the Mayor of Brighton & Hove, Councillor Brian Fitch, was there in full ceremonial fig with red cloak and black cocked hat and his mace-bearer preceded him. The police were there to stop the traffic briefly while the procession made its way along Church Road towards Grand Avenue.

During the two minutes silence the sound of light aircraft from Shoreham Airport could be heard overhead and a fire engine suddenly backed off and drove down Grand Avenue with its blue lights flashing; then there was always the lament of the seagulls.

It is a shame that the War Memorial was in deep shade during the ceremony because of the tall buildings and low angle of the sun. By contrast the houses on the east side of Grand Avenue were brilliantly illuminated by sunshine.

Wild Poppies

An unusual way of commemorating the start of the Great War in 1914 was the special planting to be seen along part of Hove seafront in the summer. Instead of old- fashioned formal planting, wild flower seeds were put in, which produced a colourful display of native flora including a sprinkling of poppies.

'Lest we Forget'

see also Portslade's Remembrance Sunday 9 November 2014 (100 years)