Residents across the borough are preparing to come together with the nation as part of the annual Remembrance period.
Poppy vendors are being thanked for their work as part of Royal British Legion’s annual appeal, with the Mayor of Bromley, Councillor Mike Botting also highlighting a recent conversation with a Peter Lemon, a 102 year old RAF veteran, believed to be the oldest veteran in the borough. The recorded message contains a clip of Peter reflecting on a near-death experience during the war, which gives an opportunity for all to better understand and to remember.
The Mayor of Bromley, who is also the Armed Forces Champion, said: “Remembrance is a time when we focus on the huge debt paid by our armed forces on behalf of the nation. Whilst a sombre occasion in many respects, it is also a time of thanksgiving to those who have served. I have been privileged recently to speak to Peter Lemon, perhaps the oldest veteran in the borough, and want to thank Peter for sharing his stories with me. I hope these memories, which are treasured, help us all to reflect and to remember the sacrifices made for us. We will remember them.”
Watch the full interview with Peter Lemon.
Bromley has more veterans than any other London Borough, with the council signing the Armed Forces Covenant earlier this year. Further information about the armed forces community in Bromley, including support that is available, is found at www.bromley.gov.uk/ArmedForces.
Remembrance Day services will be held throughout the borough on Sunday 12 November, with details found below of services where the council will be represented.
Beckenham Town and Copers Cope
Beckenham War Memorial, Rectory Road/Croydon Road, Beckenham BR2 1BN
Councillor Will Connolly will represent the borough and lay a wreath at the 10.50am service.
Guests are requested to arrive by 10.40am.
Bickley and Sundridge
St. George’s Parish Church, Bickley Park Road, Bickley BR1 2BE
Councillor Kira Gabbert will represent the borough, lay a wreath and read a lesson at the 10:30am service at St. George’s Parish Church.
St John the Evangelist Church, Park Road, Bromley BR1 3HJ
Councillor Kate Lymer will represent the borough, lay a wreath and read a lesson at the 09.45am service at St John the Evangelist Church.
Biggin Hill
St George’s RAF Chapel of Remembrance, Main Road, Biggin Hill TN16 3EG
Councillor Sophie Dunbar will represent the borough, lay a wreath and read a lesson at the 10:30am service at St George’s RAF Chapel of Remembrance.
St. Mark’s Church, 10 Church Road, Biggin Hill, Westerham TN16 3LB
Councillor Melanie Stevens will represent the borough, lay a wreath and read a lesson at the 9:30am service at St. Mark’s Church, Biggin Hill.
Biggin Hill War Memorial, Main Road, Biggin Hill TN16 3DY
Councillor Melanie Stevens will represent the borough and lay a wreath at Biggin Hill War Memorial following the service at St Mark’s Church.
Bromley Common and Holwood
Holy Trinity Church, Church Lane, Bromley Common BR2 8LB
Councillor Dr Sunil Gupta and Councillor Dr David Jefferys will represent the borough and lay a wreath at the 10:00am service at Holy Trinity Church. Following the service, the Act of Remembrance will take place at the War Memorial at 11:00am
Bromley Town
Bromley Parish Church, St Peter and St Paul, Church Road BR2 0EG
The Deputy Mayor, Councillor Keith Onslow, the Deputy Mayoress, Mrs Sara Onslow, Representative Deputy Lieutenant Robert Murfin TD DL, Sir Bob Neill MP and the Chief Executive, Mr. Ade Adetosoye CBE, will attend the service. Those attending are asked to arrive by 10:30am for a 10:50am start. After the service, the Civic party will proceed to the War Memorial for the wreath laying ceremony.
Chelsfield
St Mary’s Green Street Green, Worlds End Lane, Orpington BR6 6AG
Councillor Angela Page will represent the borough and lay a wreath at the 10.00am service at St Mary’s, Green Street Green.
Chislehurst
St. Nicholas Church, Church Lane, Chislehurst BR7 5PE
Councillors Mark Smith, Alison Stammers and Mike Jack will represent the borough, read a lesson, and lay a wreath at the 9:30am service at St. Nicholas Church, Chislehurst.
Clockhouse
St James Church, St James Avenue, BR3 4HF
Councillor Jessica Arnold and Jeremy Adams will represent the borough at the 10.30am service at St James Church, Clockhouse.
Crystal Palace and Anerley
Crystal Palace War Memorial, Westow Street SE19 3AF
Councillors Ruth McGregor and Ryan Thomson will represent the borough and lay a wreath at the 10:45am service at the Crystal Palace War Memorial.
Darwin
St Mary the Virgin Church, High Street, Downe, Bromley, BR6 7US
Councillor Jonathan Andrews will represent the borough, read a lesson and lay a wreath at the 9:30am service at St Mary the Virgin Church, Downe.
All Souls Church, Rushmore Hill, Pratt’s Bottom, BR6 7RY
Councillor Jonathan Andrews will represent the borough and lay a wreath at the 10.50 am service at All Souls Church.
Farnborough and Crofton
St. Giles the Abbot, Church Road, Farnborough Village, BR6 7DB
Councillors Christopher Marlow and Robert Evans will represent the borough and lay a wreath at the 10:45am service at the War Memorial in the Churchyard, followed by a service at 11:15am at St Giles the Abbot, Farnborough, where Councillors will read a lesson.
St. Paul’s Church, Crofton Road, BR6 8JE
Councillor Charles Joel will represent the borough, read a lesson, and lay a wreath at the 10:15am service at St Paul’s Church, Crofton.
Hayes and Coney Hall
St. Mary the Virgin, Hayes Street, Hayes, BR2 7LH
Councillor Thomas Turrell will represent the borough, read a lesson and lay a wreath at the 10:30am service at St Mary the Virgin, Hayes.
Keston Parish Church, Church Road, Keston, BR2 6HT
Councillor Alexa Michael will represent the borough at the 10:00am service at Keston Parish Church. Followed by a service at the War Memorial where she will lay a wreath.
Kelsey and Eden Park
St John’s Beckenham, 251 Eden Park Avenue, Beckenham BR3 3JN
Councillor Christine Harris will represent the borough, read a lesson and lay a wreath at the 10.30am service at St John’s, Beckenham.
Mottingham
St Andrew’s Church, 223 Court Road, Mottingham, London, SE9 4TQ
Councillor Will Rowlands will represent the borough at a service which will begin at 9:30am. This will be followed by the Act of Remembrance and wreath laying at the Mottingham War Memorial at 10:50am.
St. Edward the Confessor, 35 Keverne Road, Mottingham, London, SE9 4AQ
Honorary Alderman Charles Rideout will represent the borough and lay a wreath and read a lesson at a Remembrance service at 10:00am.
Orpington
All Saints Parish Church, Bark Hart Road, Orpington, BR6 0QD
The Mayor, Councillor Mike Botting and the Mayoress, Councillor Kim Botting will attend this service. There will be a wreath laying ceremony and a reading at Orpington War Memorial at 10:50am, followed by a service at All Saints Parish Church at 11:45am. Afterwards there will be a further service and wreath laying ceremony at Canadian Corner.
Penge and Cator
St John’s Church, 2 St John’s Road, Penge, SE20 7EQ
Councillor Simon Jeal will represent the borough and read a lesson at the 10:00am service at St John’s Church, Penge
TS Sikh Memorial, Beckenham and Penge Sea Cadets, 290 Kent House Road BR3 1JG
Councillor Kathy Bance MBE will represent the borough and lay a wreath at the 12:30pm service, following the service at St John’s Church.
Holy Trinity Church, 66 Lennard Road, London SE20 7LX
Councillor Kevin Kennedy-Brooks, will represent the borough and lay a wreath at the Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial, Holy Trinity Church, at 3:00pm.
Petts Wood and Knoll
St Francis of Assisi Parish Church, Greencourt Road, Petts Wood, Orpington, BR5 1QW
Councillor Simon Fawthrop will represent the borough and read a lesson at the 10:00am service at St Francis of Assisi Parish Church, followed by a Wreath Laying service at the Garden of Remembrance and Silence at 11:00am.
Plaistow
St. Andrew’s Church, 136 Burnt Ash Lane, BR1 5AF
Councillor Tony McPartlan will represent the borough at the 10:00am service, followed by the two minute silence, the reading of the names and the laying of the wreaths at 11:00am at St Andrew’s Church, Plaistow.
St Mary's Church, 61 College Road, BR1 3QG
Councillor Alisa Igoe will represent the borough, lay a wreath and read a lesson at the 10:30am service at St. Mary’s Church.
Shortlands and Park Langley
St. Mary’s Church, 39 Kingswood Road BR2 0HG
Councillor Felicity Bainbridge will represent the borough, lay a wreath and read a lesson at the 10:00am service at St. Mary’s Church, Shortlands.
St Mary Cray
St Mary’s Church, High Street, St Mary Cray, BR5 3NL
Councillor Shaun Slator will represent the borough, read a lesson, and lay a wreath at the 10:00am service at St Mary’s Church, St Mary Cray.
St Paul’s Cray
St. Barnabas Church, Rushet Road, St. Paul’s Cray, BR5 2PU
Councillor Rebecca Wiffen will represent the borough, read the Kohima Epitaph and lay a wreath at the 10:30am service at St Barnabas Church, St Paul’s Cray.
West Wickham
West Wickham War Memorial, Corkscrew Hill, BR4 9QT
Councillor Nicholas Bennett JP will represent the borough, lay a wreath and read a lesson at the 10:45am service with a two-minute silence at 11:00am at West Wickham War Memorial.
Ends
For media enquiries, please contact James George, Senior Public Affairs Officer, on 020 8313 4565 or email james.george@bromley.gov.uk.