The Mayor of London laid a wreath at City Hall on Friday for the Somme, the Gulf War, Bosnia and Iraq. Barnet's own 16 services are on Sunday 8 November.

City Hall held its annual Remembrance Service on Friday 6 November, marking 110 years since the Battle of the Somme. In Barnet, the services that matter are on Sunday: 16 across the borough, with the Mayor of Barnet’s at Hendon War Memorial from 10.40am and the High Barnet parade reaching Church Green by 10.40am. Every time and place is on our Remembrance Sunday in Barnet page.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and the Chair of the London Assembly, Andrew Boff AM, gave readings and laid wreaths at the City Hall service, the Mayor’s press office said. The service is held with the London Assembly and the City Hall Branch of the Royal British Legion.

What the service marked

Alongside those who died in the two World Wars and the 110th anniversary of the Somme, the service remembered three more recent conflicts:

  • 35 years since the Gulf War
  • 30 years since the end of operations in Bosnia
  • 15 years since the end of Operation Telic in Iraq

The Rt Revd Lynne Cullens, Bishop of Barking, led the service. Representatives of the Muslim, Sikh, Hindu, Jewish and Humanist communities gave readings and prayers, and the London International Gospel Choir provided the music.

Who laid wreaths

After the Mayor and the Chair of the Assembly, wreaths were laid by the Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London, Sir Alastair King, and by senior representatives of the Armed Forces, the Metropolitan Police Service, Transport for London, the London Ambulance Service, the London Fire Brigade, the British Red Cross, the Royal British Legion, London Councils and other London organisations.

London borough mayors and leaders were among the guests, with Armed Forces personnel, veterans, cadets, reservists, current and former London Assembly Members and Greater London Authority staff.

What they said

Sadiq Khan said: “Our annual Remembrance Service provides an important opportunity to honour the courage, sacrifice and service of all those who have served our country. Together we remember how they have given their lives to defend our freedom and how our brave servicemen and women continue to stand up for everything that we believe in.

“This year, we reflect on the 110th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme and those that fought courageously in the Gulf War, Bosnia and Iraq. We must never take for granted the freedoms that we enjoy and the debt that we owe to all those who fought to protect us, as we continue to build a better London for everyone.”

Andrew Boff said: “Remembrance Day is a time to honour those who gave their lives in service to our country, and to reflect on the countless lives lost and forever changed by conflict around the world.

“As we remember their courage and sacrifice, we also reaffirm our commitment to peace, stand against the horrors of war and genocide, and recognise the suffering endured by innocent civilians.

“The London Assembly joins people across our city in paying tribute to all those who have served, and those who continue to serve today. We owe it to their memory, and to future generations, to strive for a world in which peace triumphs over conflict.”

What it means for you

City Hall’s service was a guest-list occasion. The ones Barnet residents can simply turn up to are this weekend and next week:

  • Hendon War Memorial, Watford Way, NW4 3BY: the Mayor of Barnet’s service, from 10.40am on Sunday 8 November. There is no parade at Hendon this year.
  • High Barnet: the parade leaves the Reserve Army Centre on St Albans Road at 10.25am and reaches the war memorial on Church Green by 10.40am. The ceremony runs to 11.10am, and there is no service inside St John the Baptist afterwards this year.
  • RAF Museum London, Colindale: a free service at 11am on Sunday, with the North London Military Wives Choir. Arrive by 10.45am.
  • Burnt Oak: the Watling Community Memorial Service at 1.45pm, the only Sunday afternoon service on the borough list.
  • Armistice Day, Wednesday 11 November: a service on Church Green, High Barnet, at 10.45am, and the Mayor of Barnet with school children at St James the Great War Memorial in Friern Barnet.

The two minutes’ silence is at 11am on Sunday and again at 11am on Wednesday. Times for New Barnet, Finchley, Mill Hill, Edgware, Golders Green and the rest of the 16 Sunday services are on our full Barnet Remembrance list, with parking for High Barnet on our parking in Barnet page.

Sources