Under the leadership of Bandmaster Kevin Ashman and Corps Officer Major Grayson Williams Maidstone Salvation Army Corps Band marched into town to head the annual Remembrance Day parade, that one time of the year when young and old stop to bear witness to those who have gone before us in times of war that we might be free. This year’s service was made all the more poignant by the numerous recent deaths of service men on the front line in Afghanistan. The parade marched past the town hall where the Mayor of Maidstone took the salute, then moved on to cross the river Medway and form up around the war memorial near Maidstone West Station, traffic and shoppers alike stopped to share in the service and two minutes silence in the autumn sunshine.
Following this service Maidstone’s Band marched to Brenchly Gardens for the upholding of the traditional service in honour of the Local West Kent regiment, before returning to the Corps.
In the afternoon the Band were once again on duty and as they gathered for the Royal British Legion Service of Remembrance in Aylesford’s Royal British Legion Village. They headed the parade from the Mountbatten Pavilion followed by retired servicemen, and the local Army Cadet Corps to march down to the Garden of Remembrance, where a large number of ex-service personnel, family and friends had gathered.
(Photo's by Joanna Spice)
The service was conducted by Village Branch Padre: Rev. C. van Straaten who led in thought and prayer in the afternoon sunshine, and as the assembled company joined the Bandmasters lead in the congregational hymns the comradeship p was clear to see as it was followed by the traditional two minute silence.
The laying of wreaths by servicemen, families and friends made for a very personal time of reflection for all. The service was concluded with the national Anthem and as voices rose to accompany the Band I for one felt very humbled and blessed to have been a part of this poignant act of solidarity and shared remembrance.
