By Katherine Robinson of the 1st Bradley Stoke Scout Group.
The 1st Bradley Stoke Scout Group and the Willow Brook Centre are busy preparing for the annual Remembrance parade and ceremony on Sunday 11th November. We are expecting record numbers of parade participants again this year with eight other local youth groups joining us. Our own Scout group will of course have all its sections represented and will be joined by the Trident Explorer Unit, 1st Little Stoke Scout Group, 1st Stokeway Rainbows, 1st Bradley Stoke Rainbows, Brownies and Guides, 2nd Bradley Stoke Brownies and 2nd Stoke Lodge Brownies. A representative from our local town and county councils will be present and the Reverend Paul Hinckley will be representing the churches of Bradley Stoke. Once again, the excellent Filton Concert Brass band will join us in the town square to complement our own Scout Marching Band who will be accompanying the parade.
This year, our young people are going to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the end of the First world War, the RAF’s 100th birthday and the 75th anniversary of the Dambusters.
Before the parade, our Scouts, Cubs, Beavers and Explorer Scouts will be giving the war memorial its annual wash and brush-up while helping with the Royal British Legion’s annual Poppy Appeal and making large World War 1 poppy window displays at the Willow Brook Centre.
We would like to extend an invitation to all members of our community to attend the ceremony and you are very welcome to lay a wreath or cross at the memorial (a small sand box will be put out next to the memorial nearer the day). This year, we will also have a small seating area near the memorial for any older veterans or disabled members of the audience. If you would like to use this area, please make yourself known to our Scout leaders who will be in the town square on the morning of the ceremony.
More information: Map of the parade route
Local Remembrance parades and ceremonies
- Bradley Stoke: Sunday 11th November – Parade from the Jubilee Centre at 10.15am. Ceremony in the town square at 10.30am.
- Stoke Gifford: Sunday 11th November – Ceremony at the cenotaph, North Road at 10.15am followed by services at St Michael’s Church and Rock Lane Baptist Church at 11am.
- Patchway: Sunday 18th November – Parade from the car park near Coniston Medical Practice at 10.30am sharp followed by Remembrance service at the war memorial in Scott Park.
Photo: Remembrance ceremony in the town square (2017).
This article originally appeared in the November 2018 issue of the Bradley Stoke Journal magazine (on page 19). The magazine is delivered FREE, EVERY MONTH (except August), to ALL 8,700 homes in Bradley Stoke. Phone 01454 300 400 to enquire about advertising or leaflet insertion.
