Rembrance 2024 services and events in and around Watford

Watford’s main Remembrance service and parade will take place on Sunday afternoon but residents across South West Hertfordshire will have the opportunity to honour those who paid the ultimate price in the two world wars and up to the present day at several other commemorations.

Sunday's proceedings in Watford will begin with a short service at St Mary’s Church at 2pm, followed by a parade led by the Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire to the Peace Memorial by the Town Hall.

If residents would like to join at the end of parade, it will start by the church at 2.30pm or you can join the service at 3pm by the Peace Memorial.

The Remembrance parade is due to set off at 2.30pm (Image: Watford Borough Council)

There will be two minute’s silence and a reading by the Watford mayor Peter Taylor and chairwomen of the council, councillor Dawn Allen-Williamson.

The service will also be attended by the Vice Chairman and the Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, with Watford residents invited to join in the ceremony and pay their respects.

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The mayor said: “Remembrance Day is a time to honour the courage, dedication, and sacrifice of those from Watford and beyond who served in the armed forces and gave so much in conflicts past and present. Their bravery continues to inspire us, reminding us of our shared duty to strive for peace and unity.

“It’s a privilege to join with residents every year as we pay tribute to these remarkable individuals.”

For the first time two ex-service members of Proud Watford, a project working to support the LGBTQ+ community, will take part by laying a poppy wreath in honour of all those who would in today’s society identify as LGBTQ+.

Bryan Timberlake served in the RAF as a Leading Aircraftsman in the early 1950s and as part of his duties stood on guard at the coronation of the late Queen.

Mr Timberlake said: “Even though I was prepared to defend my country, I had to suppress who I was as a person, since homosexuality was illegal and remained so years after it was partially decriminalised outside the armed forces.

“So when I help lay Proud Watford’s wreath on Remembrance Sunday, I’ll be thinking about all those souls who willingly gave their lives for a country that in their day treated them as second class citizens.”

The service at the Peace Memorial (Image: Watford Borough Council)

Fans attending Watford FC’s Championship fixture against Oxford United on Friday will have the opportunity to pay their respects prior to kick-off at 8pm.

The club are asking supporters to be in their seats by 7.50pm to ensure a perfect minute’s silence can be observed at Vicarage Road.

Vicarage Road Cemetery will be the setting for a Royal British Legion act of Remembrance on Monday at 10.45am, prior to the national two minute’s silence at 11am.

A special Remembrance Day afternoon tea to commemorate the service and sacrifice of the armed services will take place at this month's Three Rivers Seniors Forum.

The event will take place from 2.45pm to 4pm at Rickmansworth School but anyone planning to attend is asked not to arrive before 2.30pm.

Three Rivers District Council’s seniors champion Cllr Keith Martin, said: "This will be the third successive year that the Seniors Forum will gather in a convivial atmosphere to collectively mark Remembrance Day. All residents are very welcome to join us at Rickmansworth School."

A round-up of other Remembrance Sunday services in and around Watford

St Mary's Church, Church Street

- 10.30am service, including two minutes silence.

St Matthew's Church, Eastbury Road

- 9.30am Parish Eucharist followed by coffee in the hall.

- 10.50am gather at the War Memorial for the Act of Remembrance, two minute’s silence and wreath laying.

- 11.15am service of Remembrance in church.

All Saints Church, Horseshoe Lane

- 9am service in person and live streamed.

- 10.45am civic service at War Memorial, High Road, Leavesden.

Oxhey Village Green

- 2.15pm Oxhey Village Green Memorial.

- 3pm Watford Heath Memorial.

St Lawrence Church, Abbots Langley

Act of Remembrance at 10.50am at the war memorial followed by Remembrance service at the church at 11.15am.

Church of Ascension, Bedmond

- 3pm to 4pm.

Holy Cross Church, Sarratt

- 10.30am start.

Christ Church, Chorleywood

- 3pm start. Meet at Chorleywood House at 2.40pm.

All Saints Church, Croxley Green

- Civic Service at 2.30pm followed by a procession to the War Memorial on the Green.

St Paul’s Church, Langleybury

- 10am start.

South Oxhey Baptist Church

- 10.30am start.

St Peter's, Mill End

- 10.50am start.

St Mary’s Church, Rickmansworth

- A parade to the church will begin at 1.30pm followed by a service at the War Memorial at 2.15pm.

Methodist Church, South Oxhey

- The service of Remembrance will be held at 10am with wreath laying at 10:55am.