Remembrance Day: everything you need to know about services in Oxford

Thousands of people across the city will observe a one-minute silence to remember and honour the service men and women who lost their lives in World War 1 tomorrow (November 11). 

On Sunday, processions will take place through the city before services commence. 

Here is everything you need to know: from memorial events you can attend to road closures. 

What is happening in Oxford for Remembrance Sunday?  

The Lord Mayor of Oxford, in partnership with the Oxford City branch of the Royal British Legion, is set to host a Remembrance Sunday Service at the War Memorial in St Giles’ on Sunday November 14.

Remembrance Sunday takes place on the second Sunday in November and honours those who have sacrificed their lives in war and conflict.  

This year’s Remembrance Sunday is significant as it marks the centenary of the Royal British Legion.

Last year’s parade was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Lord Mayor of Oxford, Councillor Mark Lygo, said: “This year’s Remembrance Sunday is especially significant as it marks the centenary of the Royal British Legion and follows on from last year, when sadly due to the pandemic no parade took place.

“On Remembrance Sunday we unite across faiths, cultures and backgrounds to remember the service and sacrifice of the Armed Forces community and their families, from Britain and the Commonwealth, and the vital role played by the emergency services and those that have lost their lives as a result of conflict or terrorism.”

Wild poppies in a field. Picture: Pixabay

When and where will the service be?

• Date: 14th November 2021
• Location: St Giles
• Time: 10:30 - 11:30
• Cost: Free

What is the order of service?

• Welcome: Councillor Mark Lygo, Lord Mayor of Oxford, and The Revd Anthony Buckley, City Rector
• Hymn: Abide with me
• Act of Penitence: The Revd Anthony Buckley, City Rector
• Messages of Remembrance from Oxford’s faith leaders:

- Penny Faust, Oxford Jewish Community

- Jawaid Malik JP, Oxford Muslim Community

- Chinta Kallie, Oxford Hindu Community

- Elisabeth Salisbury, Quakers Community

- Penny Jaques, Oxford Humanist Community

• The Flowers of the Forest: a lament by Scott Weston
• Exhortation and Kohima: Veteran Jose Rodriguez, the Royal Green Jackets and Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet, Sergeant Eleanor Harrison
• Act of Remembrance: Larry Richens, Oxford City branch, the Royal British Legion
• The Last Post, the Great Silence and the Reveille: Phil King, Senior Bugle Major, Bugles and Drums Detachment Oxfordshire (Rifles) Battalion ACF
• Hymn: O God our help in ages past
• Act of Commitment: Marjorie Glasgow, Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire
• Hymn: The Lord’s is my shepherd
• Intercessions: Atinuke Olu-Lutherking and Charlotte Baxendale
• The Lord’s Prayer: The Revd Anthony Buckley, City Rector
• The Blessing: The Revd Anthony Buckley, City Rector
• The National Anthem

Representatives from the University of Oxford, Oxford Brookes University, Oxfordshire County Council, Thames Valley Police, Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue, Help for Heroes, and Oxford’s twin cities of Grenoble, Leiden, Bonn and Wrocław will also be in attendance.

If members of the public require British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation, the interpreter will be located on the junction of St Giles’ and Woodstock Road to the west of the dais.

Oxford Spires Scouts will be on hand to distribute orders of service and sell poppies.

Members of the public are welcome to put tributes on the monument before the service.

Poppies and crossed laid out. Picture: Pexels

What roads will be closed?

Road closures and parking suspension will be in place from 12.01am to 2pm on Sunday 14 November as follows:

• St Giles’ will be closed.  Parking will be suspended during the Remembrance Sunday event
• The pavement on the Banbury Road, opposite the war memorial, will be closed. Members of the public are advised to follow pedestrian diversions or use Woodstock Road
• Banbury Road from its junction with Parks Road to its junction with St Giles’
• Beaumont Street from its junction with St John Street to its junction with St Giles’
• Keble Road
• Magdalen Street East and West

Other events this week

Wreath laying at Leiden Square, Westgate

A wreath laying ceremony by the Oxford-Leiden twin city link group will take in Leiden Square, Westgate Oxford, on Saturday 13 November at 11am. The Lord Mayor of Oxford will be in attendance.

Armistice Day

There will be a service marking Armistice Day on Thursday 11 November, starting at 10.50am, on the landing area at the top of the stairs in Oxford Town Hall.

The service will be led by the Lord Mayor of Oxford and all are welcome to attend. There will be a two minute silence at 11am.

Can I get free travel? 

Stagecoach is offering free travel for veterans and military personnel across Oxford on Remembrance Day and Remembrance Sunday.

Any veteran wearing medals or a veteran’s badge, serving personnel in uniform, or with proof of military ID, can travel for free on all Stagecoach services on November 11 and November 14. 

Employees across Stagecoach will also be asked to honour the minute’s silence.

Rachel Geliamassi, Managing Director at Stagecoach West, said: “The Royal British Legion is very close to our hearts, as many of our employees are either ex-serving personnel or have friends and family who are in the Armed Forces.

"We hope to help the local Armed Forces community, by getting involved in such an important campaign. Thanks must go to the incredible ongoing support and generous donations from our passengers, drivers and members of staff.”

A Stagecoach bus for Remembrance Day

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