Cranleigh & District Royal British Legion – Commemorating the end of the First World War
1914 – CRANLEIGH REMEMBERS – 1918
Cranleigh will honour the fallen of the Great War (1914-1918)
and subsequent wars and conflicts on
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 11th 2018
November the 11th, 2018 will be 100 years since the signing of the Armistice and the end of the First World War, and plans have now been put in place by the Cranleigh Royal British Legion, St. Nicolas Church, Cranleigh Parish Council, Cranleigh Chamber of Commerce, Cranleigh Lions and other local groups and individuals to mark this historic occasion, which also falls on Remembrance Sunday this year.
In the lead up to November 11th, local shops and businesses have been invited to display an information sheet about one of the fallen who are named on the Cranleigh War Memorial, and also if they are willing, to put on a World War One themed window display, and decorate their premises with bunting etc. The flags that fly in the High Street when the Lions Carnival is on, will be replaced with Union flags and displayed in the lead up to the 11th November.
From a database of where the fallen named on the War Memorial used to live in the village, the current householders have been contacted, and with their permission, we will be providing information sheets about the fallen for them to display outside, or in the windows of their properties.
A Schools Poetry Competition has been organised by Roy Woodhams the Rector of St. Nicolas Church, with prizes of book tokens for two different age groups, the overall winner will be able to read their poem on the 11th November at the service at the War Memorial. This has kindly been sponsored by Cranleigh Masons.
On November 10th, the opening of the Cranleigh Parish Council Centenary Garden will take place at 11am Robert Napier The Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Surrey will conduct the opening. The Standard of the Cranleigh Branch Royal British Legion will also be in attendance.
Also on November 10th, a World War One themed Exhibition will take place from 12 noon to 4pm at The Stables Restaurant at The White Hart, Ewhurst Road, Cranleigh. Those present will include local historians Michael Miller, Joy Horn and Ian Stedman. Representatives of the Cranleigh Branch Royal British Legion will also be in attendance. Admission will be free of charge.
On the 11th November itself, we are delighted to announce that Anne Milton MP has agreed to be principal guest for the service in Cranleigh. There will be a shortened Church service at St. Nicolas in the morning at 9.15am, so as to allow for a longer service at the War Memorial. As usual, there will be a parade leaving from St. Nicolas Church at 10.15am to the War Memorial. Before the service, the names of all the fallen will be read out, these will include those of World War Two and other conflicts, as it is also Remembrance Sunday. During the service, five white doves will be released to signify peace. This year seating for the elderly and infirm will be provided. During the afternoon, there will be a band playing at Cranleigh Sports and Social Club and all are welcome to attend.
As part of ‘Battles Over – a Nations Tribute’, at 7pm in the evening, the beacon in Village Way will be lit by the Parish Council and the Cranleigh Lions, this will be one of many beacons being lit all over the country. At 7.05pm the bells of St. Nicolas will ring for 10 minutes, also as part of a nation’s tribute, where church bells will ring all over the country.
For further information contact: Trevor Cobby, Honorary Secretary, Cranleigh and District RBL or
