Montgomery Remembers
November 2025
Memorial Crosses
At a moving ceremony led by ex-servicemen Captain Paul Hodgson and Rev Paulette Gower, the Montgomery school children mustered at the Garden of Remembrance last week to place 34 small wooden Memorial Crosses, to help remember those of the town who fell in the two World Wars.
This has been a tradition since 2014 when the Gardens were extensively refurbished and the War Memorial was constructed and dedicated to mark the centenary of the start of WW1. Each year, children from the school note the individual names and details of The Fallen, which they carefully inscribe on small Remembrance Crosses, ready to be planted in the Memorial Garden facing towards the Town War Memorial ahead of Remembrance Sunday. As the children came forward one by one to place their crosses, Paul Hodgson read out the names and told the children where some of the men had lived. Some had homes in view of the memorial garden, and some have relatives still living in the town; most of the servicemen had attended Montgomery School.
Inspired by the willow sculpture of a first world war nurse by Stephen Buckley which was stationed at the memorial garden during the recent scarecrow trail, Paul Hodgson spoke to the children about the role of nurses in wartime, and told them the story of one of the greatest and bravest British nurses, Edith Cavell. He also explained to the children the history of The Last Post. This was played by Dr Claire Weston as Cerys Cardwell laid the Montgomery memorial log with the image of two soldiers. As the children then came forward one by one to place their crosses, Paul Hodgson read out the names. Some had homes in view of the memorial garden, and some have relatives still living in the town; most of the servicemen had attended Montgomery School.
Remembrance in Montgomery
The Remembrance Sunday Parade formed up on Broad Street, marshalled by Freeman and Sergeant at Mace David Weaver. The parade comprised veterans from each service; representatives of the Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers with their standards; the Trefoil Guild; Freemen of Montgomery; the Clergy; the Fire Service, Police and NHS; Sergeants at Mace, Mayor and Mayoress, and Councillors. With flags and standards, they marched from Broad Street to Church for the Remembrance Sunday Service held in St Nicholas’ Church. The service was led by the Chapel and Rev Rebecca Lalbiaksangi.
Following the service in church, the parade reformed and continued at a slow march to the Garden of Remembrance and War Memorial. Here, those gathered remembered the men and women of Montgomery Town who served in the two World Wars and the sacrifices of those whose lives were lost and damaged in these and later conflicts. The parade bugler, Bill Ridley, played Calon Lân as everyone assembled for the service, which was led by Revd. Rebecca, who opened with ecumenical prayers. The two National flags were paraded and lowered either side of the Memorial by Freeman Michael Davies and Russ Honeyman, an RAF veteran. Wreaths were laid on behalf of the town’s organisations and in memory of those who suffered.
The bugler sounded The Last Post for two minutes’ silence, during which the Exhortation to Remember and the Kohima Epitaph were read by Veteran Quintin Batt and Chris Boundy, whose father Terry served in the Far East in the Second World War. As the bugler sounded Reveille, the flags were raised and the names of Montgomery’s Fallen were read out by Paul Hodgson and Quintin Batt. The Act of Remembrance concluded with prayers, the National Anthems and a blessing.
Donations made on Sunday will be added to the Poppy Appeal total, and go to support the work of the Royal British Legion. The service was live streamed for those unable to attend for reasons such as travel or ill health, and was watched live from as far away as Western Australia and Michigan.
In the last of the Sunday light, the now traditional short Service of Remembrance was held at the Montgomeryshire County War Memorial on Town Hill at 4pm. Mayor Rob Harper laid a wreath on behalf of the Town, County Councillor Jeremy Brignell-Thorp laid a wreath for the County, with the inscription: "Against this backdrop of global conflict, let us remember that every life lost of whatever nationality is someone's mother, someone's father, someone's son or someone's daughter." The third wreath was laid by Ranger Jenny Bailey-Beech and Guide Lucy Bailey-Beech on behalf of Montgomeryshire Girlguiding.
Revd. Paulette Gower led prayers, with the Exhortation and Kohima Epitaph spoken by Paul Hodgson and Chris Boundy as Bill Ridley sounded The Last Post and Reveille.
On 11th November, at 11am, Montgomery residents and the whole of Montgomery CinW School joined ex-servicemen, freemen, the Mayor and other Councillors to participate in two minutes' silence and a moment of reflection for Armistice Day. The short ceremony was led by Rev Paulette and the Last Post and Reveille were again played by bugler Bill Ridley. Captain Paul Hodgson read the Laurence Binyon Exhortation, and Chris Boundy gave the Kohima Epitaph.
A “Montgomery Remembers” video was then produced and shared by Adam Cusack of G17 Photography, featuring scenes from the school crosses ceremony, the Montgomery Poppy Project installation currently on display in the Church, and Remembrance events from this year and previously.
Paul Hodgson said, “As others, I was deeply moved by the children’s quiet display of reverence at each of the ceremonies they were an important part of; they were a credit to the School and Montgomery.”
He reports gratefully that whilst collection boxes are still being collected, initial results indicate an increase in giving over past years, saying it’s a tribute to the generosity of Montgomery’s community.
Images from the 2025 remembrance service can be seen here: Montgomery Remembers