Local community gathers for Remembrance Sunday

Each year, the Alconbury Weald community joins representatives from the RAF and USAF to honour those who served at the former airfield during its military past.

The local community gather outside Ermine Street Church Academy and form a procession to the former Watch Office. This listed building, which formed a key part of RAF Alconbury’s wartime effort, sits at the heart of the first community hub after its refurbishment into a café and bistro.

The Watch Office was historically used by RAF Command to overview the missions leaving the airfield – counting aircraft out and counting them in again, noting the losses of those not returning. The Green outside the Watch Office provides a focus for Second World War remembrance and will include a future memorial to both the American and Royal Air Force crews who served there. It will also mark the site of a tragic accident in May 1943 when 19 young men lost their lives in an explosion whilst aircraft were being prepared for a mission.

Following a two minute silence, Rev’d Rob Paddison from Alconbury Weald Church led a service of reflection and prayer, followed by a two-minute silence at 11am and the laying of wreaths and concluding with the British and American National Anthems. 

Attendees were also be invited to place a poppy with the wreaths laid out on the platform by Memorial Green.

Natalie Leigh Brown, Community Development Lead for Alconbury Weald, said: “The Remembrance Service at Alconbury Weald is always particularly poignant due to the development’s military heritage and it was lovely to see so many residents of all ages gathered together this year to pay their respects to those who have fought to protect our way of life.”