A national service of commemoration is being held at Westminster Abbey on November 11th 2009. There will also be another annual remembrance service at the Cenotaph in Whitehall on Sunday 8th November. With the recent passing of the last British servicemen to hold active duty during World War One, these services hold particular significance.
In addition, and for the very first time this year, it now been decided to conduct a solemn act of remembrance on the river in central London focussed around the observance of the two minute silence at 11am on 11th November and the subsequent laying of a wreath on the waters of the Thames.
All the major bodies connected with the River Thames including the Tower of London, The Company of Watermen and Lightermen and the Port of London Authority (PLA) are combining with the owner and operators of the historic vessel Havengore to organise this event. Large numbers of Londoners who worked in the docks and for the various public services and businesses along the river lost their lives in the Great War and it seems particularly appropriate to remember their sacrifice this year and in such a manner. A secondary advantage is that an act of remembrance actually conducted on the River Thames will connect this commemoration in a very tangible way to the element of water and hence to the sea.
Havengore, with her illustrious part as the longest serving vessel of the PLA and following her major role as an integral part of Sir Winston Churchill's State Funeral in January 1965 was seen=2 0to be the most appropriate vessel to act as the centrepiece of this ceremony.
Thus On November 11th 2009, accompanied by duty boats from the various river services including the PLA, RNLI and others, Havengore will cover the same route as Sir Winston's funeral, passing many of London's major landmarks commencing with the Tower of London. However this time she will end in the waters off the Houses of Parliament. As Big Ben chimes 11am, the two minute silence will be observed followed by a religious service culminating in the casting of a wreath onto the waters of the Thames and a bugler from the regular Army will play the Last Post followed by Reveille. - 30244
In addition, and for the very first time this year, it now been decided to conduct a solemn act of remembrance on the river in central London focussed around the observance of the two minute silence at 11am on 11th November and the subsequent laying of a wreath on the waters of the Thames.
All the major bodies connected with the River Thames including the Tower of London, The Company of Watermen and Lightermen and the Port of London Authority (PLA) are combining with the owner and operators of the historic vessel Havengore to organise this event. Large numbers of Londoners who worked in the docks and for the various public services and businesses along the river lost their lives in the Great War and it seems particularly appropriate to remember their sacrifice this year and in such a manner. A secondary advantage is that an act of remembrance actually conducted on the River Thames will connect this commemoration in a very tangible way to the element of water and hence to the sea.
Havengore, with her illustrious part as the longest serving vessel of the PLA and following her major role as an integral part of Sir Winston Churchill's State Funeral in January 1965 was seen=2 0to be the most appropriate vessel to act as the centrepiece of this ceremony.
Thus On November 11th 2009, accompanied by duty boats from the various river services including the PLA, RNLI and others, Havengore will cover the same route as Sir Winston's funeral, passing many of London's major landmarks commencing with the Tower of London. However this time she will end in the waters off the Houses of Parliament. As Big Ben chimes 11am, the two minute silence will be observed followed by a religious service culminating in the casting of a wreath onto the waters of the Thames and a bugler from the regular Army will play the Last Post followed by Reveille. - 30244
About the Author:
Havengore is now privately owned and used for River Thames Boat Charters and Corporate Hospitality
