People attended services to remember those from the parish who made the ultimate sacrifice
The people of Penzance have come together at Acts of Remembrance to honour those from the parish who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Organised by Penzance Council, the first event on Remembrance Sunday began with a civic parade through the town led by Lieutenant Commander Simon Stevenson from RNAS Culdrose. Starting at St John’s Hall and finishing at the War Memorial at Battery Rocks where a Remembrance Service was held, the parade marched to the beat of drummer Tom Wheatley from Humphry Davy School, who stepped in at the last minute to offer his rhythmical talents.
The Cornish language featured prominently in the service, which was led by the Revd Howard Peskett and featured a reading by the Mayor of Penzance Stephen Reynolds, as well as words from Michael Dash and the Mayor’s Sea Cadet – Able Cadet Autumn Rhodes McClean.
The Mayor of Penzance and Councillors from Penzance Council were joined for the parade and service by local veterans; representatives from the Royal British Legion Penzance Branch; Penzance Sea Cadets; Penzance Army Cadets; Penzance Police; Penzance Fire Station Crew; St John Ambulance; 1st Penzance Brownies; Penzance Salvation Army; Humphry Davy School; Mounts Bay Academy; St Mary’s C of E Primary School; the Penzance-Concarneau Twinning Association; the Penzance-Cuxhaven Twinning Association; the Rotary Club of Penzance; the Rotary Club of Mounts Bay; Penzance Civic Society; St Mary’s Church and Penzance Lions Club. Penzance Silver Band also attended the service to play whilst the poppy wreaths were laid at the war memorial.
Following the service, Mayor of Penzance Stephen Reynolds commented:
“Remembrance Sunday is a special event in our civic calendar, made all the more powerful by the spectacular location of the service at Battery Rocks, on the holy headland from which our town takes its name. And at a time when war and strife fill so much of our daily news, it’s more important than ever to remember those who gave their lives in past conflicts.”
Penzance Council would like to thank Penzance BID and Jubilee Pool for their support of the event, Penzance Town Crier Phil Northcott, and Isaac Hutchings who played The Last Post. Thanks also to everyone who took part in the parade and service and to all the members of the public who lined the route and attended the service.
On Monday 11 November, Acts of Remembrance began early in Penzance for Armistice Day, when the Mayor of Penzance joined representatives of Armed Forces charities to lay wreaths on the 5.03am GWR ‘Poppies to Paddington’ train as part of Routes of Remembrance 2024.
Organised by The Veterans Charity, Routes of Remembrance 2024 saw hundreds of wreaths travel across the country before converging on London and other major cities for special remembrance services.
Joined by others at stations along the route, the wreaths laid on the ‘Poppies to Paddington’ train in Penzance made their way to the iconic Paddington Station War Memorial in time for 11am.
Cllr Stephen Reynolds, Mayor of Penzance, said:
“Poppies to Paddington is a wonderful initiative, bringing together all the communities on one of the world’s most famous railway lines in a symbolic act of remembrance. It’s an honour to take part, and huge thanks to The Veterans Charity, and the railway staff at GWR, for making it happen”.
The final Act of Remembrance in Penzance was a short service in the Memorial Gardens in Penlee Park on Monday 11 November, led by Pastor Charles Fleming and Revd Howard Peskett, with a two-minute silence at 11am.
Remembrance Sunday Services were also held in Newlyn, Mousehole, Paul, Heamoor and Gulval to remember the service and sacrifice of all those from the parish. Penzance Council would like to thank everyone who was involved in organising these events, as well as those who attended.
See all the pictures from the Armistice Day Service below:
