To think this is strange?

MrsDeaconClaybourne · 2024-11-10T14:49:35+00:00

The town I live in has its Remembrance Sunday parade and silence in the afternoon. Does anywhere else in the country do this? I have asked several locals, over the years, if they know why but nobody seems to. Got the impression they think I'm strange for questioning it. I used to make the effort to go when the DC were younger and in Cubs etc but now would rather just watch the 'real' one on the TV if I'm at home and then go about my day. Does anyone, anywhere in the UK do this?

BenditlikeBridget · 10/11/2024 23:58

I always thought church services were in the morning and parades in the afternoon. Historically they often involved the same people.

AllTheChaos · 10/11/2024 23:54

thanksicloud · 10/11/2024 15:53

yes

i had misinterpreted the op and thought she meant the town went in to some kind of lockdown all afternoon!

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That would definitely be odd! Though if meant my offspring would be quiet I’d give it a go 🤦‍♀️

TheDowagerCountessofPembroke · 10/11/2024 16:19

thanksicloud · 10/11/2024 16:09

update…. above

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Cross post ….. sorry.

thanksicloud · 10/11/2024 16:09

TheDowagerCountessofPembroke · 10/11/2024 16:05

Have you never experienced the two minute silence before? Every 11th of November at 11am for about the last 100 years it’s happened. Most shops, train stations, cafes etc ask for people to observe it and they stop service for that two minutes. And asking children to be quiet for two minutes isn’t really asking much.

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update…. above

TheDowagerCountessofPembroke · 10/11/2024 16:05

thanksicloud · 10/11/2024 14:56

what does “silence” actually mean in. town centre? are you saying all the shops are shut? no cafes? no kids allowed to talk or laugh?

Have you never experienced the two minute silence before? Every 11th of November at 11am for about the last 100 years it’s happened. Most shops, train stations, cafes etc ask for people to observe it and they stop service for that two minutes. And asking children to be quiet for two minutes isn’t really asking much.

Original poster

MrsDeaconClaybourne · 10/11/2024 16:02

FreakOfNature · 10/11/2024 15:51

Are you in the town of books OP? They have their service in the afternoon. It's the first I've come across and we are a forces family who have been to many, many services over the years.

No, I'm quite a bit further north than that. I did visit the book town for the first time last month though!

I'd never thought to Google afternoon remembrance before I'd just thought it was a strange local quirk. I'm now suitably educated on how common a 2pm parade and service is. Every day is school day and all that

OP posts:

SnipSnipMrBurgess · 10/11/2024 15:56

thanksicloud · 10/11/2024 14:57

oh you’re not in the uk

so im guessing in a country where sundays are very quiet anyway on a sunday with very little trading

I don't think any other country notes remembrance day in the same way the Brits do.

thanksicloud · 10/11/2024 15:53

AllTheChaos · 10/11/2024 15:51

Have you never been in a town centre when it happens? Music goes off in shops, staff stand in silence, cars (ideally!) pull over and park for the two minutes, everyone just - stops. Obviously little children will do their thing, but can be gently hushed or encouraged to be quiet briefly by their parents.

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yes

i had misinterpreted the op and thought she meant the town went in to some kind of lockdown all afternoon!

AllTheChaos · 10/11/2024 15:51

thanksicloud · 10/11/2024 14:56

what does “silence” actually mean in. town centre? are you saying all the shops are shut? no cafes? no kids allowed to talk or laugh?

Have you never been in a town centre when it happens? Music goes off in shops, staff stand in silence, cars (ideally!) pull over and park for the two minutes, everyone just - stops. Obviously little children will do their thing, but can be gently hushed or encouraged to be quiet briefly by their parents.

FreakOfNature · 10/11/2024 15:51

Are you in the town of books OP? They have their service in the afternoon. It's the first I've come across and we are a forces family who have been to many, many services over the years.

thanksicloud · 10/11/2024 15:41

Needmorelego · 10/11/2024 15:40

@thanksicloud you asked when the 2 minute silence was 🙂

again

i i asked the op when the silence was in the afternoon that she said was random 😊

Needmorelego · 10/11/2024 15:40

@thanksicloud you asked when the 2 minute silence was 🙂

ForPearlViper · 10/11/2024 15:32

Remembrance Sunday became a fixed date in the 50s. I imagine towns fitted their plans around what already took place on Sundays in their localities. As others have said, our Mayor attends about half a dozen ceremonies on Remembance Sunday.

Armistice Day on 11th itself is more specifically attached with silence at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

thanksicloud · 10/11/2024 15:31

Needmorelego · 10/11/2024 15:30

@thanksicloud yes... that's what I said.

you quoted me whereas it was the Op who asked
i thought you were addressing me to respond 🤷

Needmorelego · 10/11/2024 15:30

@thanksicloud yes... that's what I said.

thanksicloud · 10/11/2024 15:29

Needmorelego · 10/11/2024 15:27

@thanksicloud Remembrance Day is the 11th - tomorrow.
At 11 o'clock there will be a 2 minutes silence throughout the UK.
Today is Remembrance Sunday when the 2 minutes silence is usually at 11 o'clock (in places like shops etc) but if a service is held later in the day it will include a 2 minute silence.
In my home town there was a service held at a War Memorial on the grounds of what was previously a factory for any staff that served and died. This was held in the week (wednesday or thursday - I forget which).
This included a 2 minute silence then.

look at what other towns do

Loads do an afternoon parade

thanksicloud · 10/11/2024 15:29

MrsDeaconClaybourne · 10/11/2024 15:23

I will! Weirdly it's something I've never thought to Google and I'm normally one to look up everything! Every year I think that's a bit strange then forget for another year. I drove past just now which is what made me ask on here. Historically it was a very small village so having to share officials is very likely

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loads!

Needmorelego · 10/11/2024 15:27

@thanksicloud Remembrance Day is the 11th - tomorrow.
At 11 o'clock there will be a 2 minutes silence throughout the UK.
Today is Remembrance Sunday when the 2 minutes silence is usually at 11 o'clock (in places like shops etc) but if a service is held later in the day it will include a 2 minute silence.
In my home town there was a service held at a War Memorial on the grounds of what was previously a factory for any staff that served and died. This was held in the week (wednesday or thursday - I forget which).
This included a 2 minute silence then.

Original poster

MrsDeaconClaybourne · 10/11/2024 15:23

thanksicloud · 10/11/2024 15:18

google remembrance parade 2pm

and you’ll see

I will! Weirdly it's something I've never thought to Google and I'm normally one to look up everything! Every year I think that's a bit strange then forget for another year. I drove past just now which is what made me ask on here. Historically it was a very small village so having to share officials is very likely

OP posts:

thanksicloud · 10/11/2024 15:18

google remembrance parade 2pm

and you’ll see

thanksicloud · 10/11/2024 15:18

MrsDeaconClaybourne · 10/11/2024 15:11

I have wondered that but it that's the case why don't all small places do this? I'd never heard of it before I moved here and have lived in several different towns and cities around the UK

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if you google

many many many do

Original poster

MrsDeaconClaybourne · 10/11/2024 15:18

thanksicloud · 10/11/2024 15:12

the fixed time in the afternoon would be much odder than just a minutes silence for an additional reflection at an appropriate moment in the afternoon event

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True - I've just never known anywhere else do it this way. I've always been met with blank looks when I've asked. If someone has said "it's because in the old days we used to share a vicar/band with X-Bigtown" it would have made perfect sense.

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thanksicloud · 10/11/2024 15:12

MrsDeaconClaybourne · 10/11/2024 15:10

Sort of 3 ish? Maybe 2.45. They assemble at 2.15 I think. Parade to the cenotaph then short service including the silence. It doesn't seem to be a fixed time which is one of the things I find strange.

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the fixed time in the afternoon would be much odder than just a minutes silence for an additional reflection at an appropriate moment in the afternoon event

Original poster

MrsDeaconClaybourne · 10/11/2024 15:11

ClytemnestraWasMisunderstood · 10/11/2024 15:06

Perhaps to allow attendees to watch the Cenotaph service in the morning

I have wondered that but it that's the case why don't all small places do this? I'd never heard of it before I moved here and have lived in several different towns and cities around the UK

OP posts:

thanksicloud · 10/11/2024 15:11

ok so LOADS have the parade in the afternoon

but a randomly picked minutes silence is clearly in addition to everyone doing the 11 on their own or at a service etc

but loads have the parade in the afternoon and i imagine most of them also include a minutes silence (in addition to 11am)