Remembering the fallen through the years in Hexham

The town has held events including annual Remembrance services to special services commemorating anniversaries such as the centenary service marking the beginning of the First World War, which was held in 2014. 

READ MORE: Remembering the dark days of the First World War

Hexham Town Council has arranged the Remembrance event this year to take place at several locations.

Hexham Abbey Choir lead the Hymn Hexham Remembrance Day Service in 2012 (Image: Yvonne Davies) The customary parade and wreath-laying are usually accompanied by speeches and a minute's silence.

Peter Hawkins plays Scottish Airs in Hexham whilst community groups assemble at Prospect House on Hexham's Remembrance Day Service in 2012 (Image: Yvonne Davies) This year, there will be a parade from the Moot Hall at 10.15am on Sunday, November 10 followed by a service at Hexham War Memorial on Beaumont Street at 10.30am.

The Remembrance Service in 2012 (Image: Yvonne Davies) There will be an informal two-minute silence at the War Memorial on Monday, November 11 at 11am.

Hexham mayor Derek Kennedy with Carol Malia, deputy lord lieutenant of Northumberland (Image: Hexham Town Council) In 2022, the town council arranged a Peace Walk, coordinated with Hexham's twin towns of Noyon and Metzingen, and organised with Hexham Town Twinning Committee Churches Together in Hexham.

Wreaths at the memorial in 2023 (Image: Hexham Town Council) The Peace Walk was to demonstrate Hexham's unity with people in its twin towns and the local Ukrainian community in showing support for peace, and remembering those caught in global conflict.

The Peace Walk in Hexham, 2023 (Image: Hexham TV) Poppies were also laid on the graves of servicemen and women buried at Hexham Cemetery and a wreath-laying ceremony was held at Hexham General Hospital.

The laying of wreaths at Hexham's cenotaph in 1997 (Image: NQ) In 2021, the event returned to normal following the disruption in 2020 caused by the Covid pandemic.

Soldiers remember their fallen comrades in Hexham (Image: NQ) To make the event even more inclusive, in 2021 Veterans for Peace laid a white poppy wreath during the honour guard while a purple wreath was also laid in memory of animals killed in service.

Soldiers march down Priestpopple on their way to the front line in 1914. In the centre of the image is Sgt Matthew Scott Charlton who can be seen pushing a bicycle (Image: NQ) 2021 marked the centenary of the Royal British Legion, as well as that of St Wilfrid’s former War Memorial Hospital, on Eastgate, and the War Memorial itself. 

The Northumbria Army Cadet Force at ease outside Hexham Abbey, before the service held in 2014 marking the centenary anniversary of the start of the First World War (Image: Tony Iley)

Prince Henry, the Duke of Gloucester, officially opened the War Memorial Hospital and the War Memorial in 1921.

In 2021, Hexham mayor Derek Kennedy gave an address in Hexham Park before the Service of Remembrance, Last Post, gun salute and minute’s silence. This was followed by the reveille, the Abbey Choir, the Northumbrian piper and wreath-laying.

The service concluded with the Lord’s Prayer and National Anthem.

In 2020, people decorated their homes, businesses and buildings with poppies, baked cakes and held private commemorations, while traditional church services were either stream-lined, and Covid compliant, or moved online.