🇬🇧 Formby Falls Silent to Honour the Fallen on Armistice Day

It was a moving morning in Formby today (Monday 11th November), as the community gathered to mark Armistice Day — the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month — when the guns fell silent to end the First World War in 1918.

The Formby War Memorial was surrounded by dozens of local residents, veterans, dignitaries and schoolchildren who came together to pay their respects. It was wonderful to see such a strong turnout from the community, young and old alike, united in remembrance of those who gave their lives in service to their country.

The Formby Royal British Legion organised and coordinated the day’s events, beginning with a short act of remembrance at the War Memorial, which included the laying of wooden crosses and a two-minute silence at 11:00am.

Following this, at 11:45am, a second ceremony took place at Our Lady’s Churchyard, where crosses were laid on the Polish War Graves in honour of the Polish Airmen who died and were based at Woodvale during the war.

Both services were beautifully attended and conducted with great dignity and respect — a fitting tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

Watch the full service on our Formby Bubble YouTube page here…

This morning’s gathering followed a difficult weekend for many residents, as Formby was left without a formal Remembrance Sunday service at 11am — something that deeply saddened the community. Despite the rain, local people, including veterans, families, and children, still turned out to pay their respects informally at the Cenotaph, showing true community spirit and heartfelt respect.

Read the full story HERE

Next year, Formby Bubble will do our best to work closely with Formby Parish Council, Sefton Council, and the Royal British Legion to ensure that our village has a full Remembrance Sunday service at 11am, worthy of those who gave their lives for our freedom.

Formby has shown this week that remembrance runs deep in our hearts — and together, we will make sure it is honoured properly in the years to come. At the going down of the sun and in the morning WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

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TWO MINUTES - FORMBY

Poem by Joan Rimmer

11th November 2002

They gave their all that we might live,

Young men in the prime of life,

The living Hell of two World Wars,

Unimagined battling strife.

Never forget their sacrifice,

If only one day each year,

When we keep two minutes silence,

Grateful for all we hold dear.

So on the dot of eleven

The bustling Village fell still,

Bowed heads remembered the fallen

In the sunshine's Autumn chill.

One minute into the silence,

A girl and a man strolled by,

Ignoring the silence around them

And those with a tear in their eye.

She was a girl in her twenties,

He was about forty-five,

Selfishly uncomprehending,

No thanks that they both were alive.

For those names on our War Memorial

All paid the ultimate cost,

Not one returned to his village,

Much more than two minutes they lost.

And whether the Somme or the Desert,

We'll never repay the debt

To those who gave us our peace time,

Which is why we must never forget.

By Joan Rimmer

Formby Historian