Over 700 members of the public turned out on a cold wet day to remember those who had fallen in the two world wars.

Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire, Sir Henry Aubrey-Fletcher,  joined the Town Mayor, Cllr Neil Marshall, the Deputy Mayor of Marly-le-Roi, Monsieur Benoit Burgaud, Councillor Petra Meier, Town Councillors, together with the many organisations who took part.

The Lord Lieutenant came on Parade and the Service commenced at 10.45am.  Canon Nick Molony took the service, assisted by Canon Griffiths. Canon Molony said that he had been privileged to have conducted 20 Remembrance Services for Marlow.  The Parade itself was managed by Parade Commander, Lt Col Shaun Murphy, and Parade Marshal, Mr Tony Cummins. 

Major James Campbell, TD gave the poignant Royal British Legion Exhortation: They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old.  Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.  At the going down of the sun and in the morning.   We will remember them.

For the two minute silence, bugler Simon Davie played the Last Post, followed by the playing the Lament by Ben Ashmore of Radleigh College. 

At the end of the two minute silence, Simon Davie played Reveille and the Service then continued with the laying of wreaths on the Memorial.  These were laid not only by Marlow Town Council, civic dignitaries but veterans, all branches of the Regular Forces and Cadets, through to the various associations represented.  

The Names of the Fallen were read out by the Town Mayor, Cllr Neil Marshall, Cadets from Air Training Corp, 1811 (Marlow) Squadron, Sea Cadets from TS Apollo, Marlow and Army Cadets, Marlow.

At the conclusion of the Service, Parade Commander Shaun Murphy requested permission from the Lord Lieutenant to Dismiss.  The Parade then marched up the High Street where the Lord Lieutenant took the Salute and the Parade marched back to the Royal British Legion Headquarters for some much needed refreshments.

The day was the culmination of many hours of planning by the staff of Marlow Town Council, the Royal British Legion and the three Cadet forces.

The Poppy Appeal total for last year was £15,735.90 and it is believed that this total will be exceeded for 2009.

Veterans Lunch.

Town Mayor, Cllr Neil Marshall, hosted the annual Veterans Lunch on Saturday 7th November in the General Higginson Room, Court Garden.

24 Marlow veterans with their guests were invited by the Mayor to attend what has become a very popular lunch.   Deputy Mayor Benoit Burguad and Cllr Petra Meier attended on behalf of our twinned town Marly-le-Roi, together with Group Captain Tony Radcliffe, Station Commander RAF High Wycombe.

Guests sat down to enjoy a traditional roast chicken dinner with all the trimmings.  The Lunch was followed by a Toast proposed by Group Captain Radcliffe to Her Majesty and to the President of France in deference to our French Guests.

Town Mayor welcomed his guests and made particular reference to Cllr June Coleridge and Mrs Corinne Field, (below) who have recently been honoured by the Government and received a certificate signed by the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, expressing “the deepest gratitude for the vital service you performed during World War II.”  They also received a special badge

Mrs Elizabeth Peacock (below) who served in the Wrens gave the reply on behalf of the guests.  She said that this event had come to mean a lot to the veterans.  

Mrs Peacock thanked the Town Council for providing such a lovely lunch and expressed her appreciation on behalf of the veterans to the Town Council for organising such a wonderful event where they could meet up with old friends.