Crowds gather for Armistice Day at Weymouth Cenotaph

Veterans, officials and members of the public gathered for a minute's silence.

Author: George SharpePublished 11th Nov 2021

Crowds gathered at Weymouth's Cenotaph for Armistice Day to remember those who gave their lives.

A short service was held before the silence at 11am, followed by the laying of a wreath at the cenotaph.

Among the crowd was Poppy Butcher, 93, who was born on Armistice Day and was named for that reason.

Poppy Butcher, 93, dressed in a poppy jumper in front of Weymouth Cenotaph.

Poppy is remembering her father who died in one of the first bombing raids of the second world war. He was working down at Portland's docks.

She remembers the day well. Poppy told Greatest Hits Radio Dorset:

"I was on my way to school on the 4th July 1940 and the planes started coming over and you could see the bombs coming down.

"A lady pulled us into her house and we stayed there until it had finished, we went to school and there was another siren and we were sent home.

"Then it came to tea time and my father was due home and he didn't come home."

Mayor of Weymouth Colin Huckle laid the wreath at the cenotaph. He says this year holds special significance.

"Unfortunately last year we could not do it here. As a country and the world we've suffered greatly for nearly two years with COVID.

"We've been subject to conditions that a lot of us haven't experienced, where as going back to the two world wars, individuals have experienced a lot."

A further Remembrance Sunday service will be held at the Cenotaph on the Esplanade at 10:30am. Road closures will be in place along the Esplanade between William Street and King Street.

A cannon will be fired from the beach by the Nothe Fort Volunteer Artillery to signal the two-minute silence at 11am, with the Weymouth Salvation Army bugler performing the Last Post and Reveille.

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