Residents, community leaders, and local organisations gathered by the entrance of Tonbridge Castle today to observe Armistice Day, pausing to reflect and pay tribute to those who sacrificed their lives in conflicts past and present.
Led by Carl Lewis, the poignant service brought together the community at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. The ceremony opened with the moving words of “The Exhortation,” followed by the solemn sounding of the first maroon at 11am to signal the start of the traditional two-minute silence.
As silence fell over the castle grounds, the community stood together in shared reflection. At 11.02am, the second maroon sounded, followed by the Reveille to mark the end of the silence.
Wreaths were then laid at the Town Memorial to honour the fallen. Tributes were laid by:
- Mr Gavin McKinnon OBE, Deputy Lieutenant
- Cllr Mark Rhodes, representing Kim Tanner, the Worshipful the Mayor of Tonbridge and Malling, and former Mayor
- The Weald Branch of the 2nd Bn Queens Regiment
- Jennifer Lewis, on behalf of the Royal British Legion
- 2520 Squadron Tonbridge Air Training Corps
- AJEX, representing the local Jewish community
Following the wreath-laying, the Kohima Epitaph was read—reminding all present of the ultimate price paid for tomorrow’s freedom—before a short service and final prayers led by the Reverend Ben Thorndike. The ceremony concluded with the sounding of the National Anthem, uniting the community in a powerful display of remembrance and gratitude.
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