History Made in Formby as Village Comes Together for First Official 11am Remembrance Sunday Service

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It was a truly special and emotional morning in Formby today, Sunday 8 November 2026, as dozens of residents, veterans, families and members of the community gathered at the village War Memorial for a historic Remembrance Sunday service.

Despite the chilly November weather, people of all ages wrapped up warmly and made their way into Formby Village to pay their respects to the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country.

What made this year’s occasion particularly special was that, for the first time, Formby held an official 11am Remembrance Sunday service at the village War Memorial. Previously, the traditional 11am silence had only been observed there on a Sunday when Remembrance Sunday coincided with Armistice Day itself.

It was a wonderful milestone for the village and the beginning of what is hoped will become a cherished annual tradition for generations to come.

A Special Thank You to Tina Morris and Councillor Maria Bennett

This historic occasion was made possible thanks to the dedication and determination of Tina Morris, Formby Parish Council and Councillor Maria Bennett, who worked together to ensure that Formby could gather at its War Memorial for the traditional 11am act of remembrance.

Their efforts were rewarded with a fantastic turnout, as dozens of people gathered around the memorial for what was a beautifully organised and deeply moving service.

There was a wonderful sense of community spirit as veterans proudly wearing their medals stood alongside local residents, families and younger generations, all united in remembrance.

It was particularly touching to see people of different ages standing together, each taking time out of their Sunday morning to honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

A Beautiful Service of Reflection and Remembrance

The service began at 10.45am and was led by Reverend Cooke, who guided those gathered through a thoughtful programme of prayers, poetry and remembrance.

Councillor Maria Bennett opened proceedings with a reading of the famous poem In Flanders Fields by John McCrae, a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by those who fought and died during the First World War.

Reverend Cooke then delivered a Bible reading from John Chapter 15, verses 9 to 17, before local humanitarian Simon Davies read Why Do I Wear a Poppy by Anne Starr.

Simon is well known throughout Formby for his extraordinary humanitarian efforts supporting families affected by the war in Ukraine. His dedication has earned him several awards, including the Pride of Formby Special Achievement Award, the Pride of Sefton Charity Champion Award and the Parliamentary Taxi Hero Award.

Through his humanitarian missions, Simon has delivered tonnes of essential supplies to Ukraine and helped women and children escape the dangers of war. His compassion and tireless commitment to helping others made his contribution to the Remembrance service particularly meaningful.

Following the readings, Reverend Cooke led the Lord’s Prayer before Tina Morris delivered the Exhortation, with everyone joining together in the familiar and deeply moving words:

“We will remember them.”

Formby Falls Silent at 11am

As the clock reached 11am, the Last Post sounded and the flag was lowered as the village fell silent for two minutes.

It was an incredibly moving moment.

Surrounded by the names of Formby’s fallen, veterans, residents and families stood quietly together, remembering those who never returned home and those whose lives were forever changed by war.

For those two minutes, the usual sounds of a busy Sunday morning seemed to fade away as everyone stood united in remembrance.

The silence was followed by the Reveille, bringing the solemn act of remembrance to a close.

It was a moment that many of those attending will remember for years to come.

Beautiful Poppy Wreaths Laid in Honour of the Fallen

The service continued with Reverend Cooke delivering the Kohima Epitaph, followed by the presentation of wreaths and the planting of remembrance crosses around the memorial.

Beautiful red poppy wreaths were placed at the foot of the monument, creating a striking and heartfelt tribute to those whose names are engraved in stone.

Among the wreaths were tributes from Formby Parish Council, The Formby Club and other organisations, each representing the gratitude and respect of the wider community.

The small wooden remembrance crosses placed around the memorial were another poignant sight, each carrying its own personal message of remembrance.

As the wreaths were laid, the importance of the occasion was clear. This was not simply about observing a tradition. It was about ensuring that the sacrifices of previous generations are never forgotten.

The service concluded at approximately 11.15am with a Remembrance Blessing from Reverend Cooke.

A Warm Welcome from The Formby Club

The warmth of the occasion continued after the service, thanks to a lovely gesture from The Formby Club, situated above Wetherspoons in Formby Village.

The club generously invited veterans and members of the public who had attended the service to join them afterwards for a complimentary whisky, cup of tea or coffee.

It was a thoughtful and welcoming gesture, giving everyone the opportunity to warm up after standing in the cold November air, enjoy a friendly conversation and reflect on the morning’s events.

For many veterans, occasions such as this provide an important opportunity to come together, share memories and feel the appreciation of the community around them.

A huge thank you must go to everyone at The Formby Club for their kindness and hospitality.

It was a lovely way to round off such a meaningful morning and another example of the wonderful community spirit that makes Formby so special.

A New Tradition for Formby

For many years, Formby has held Remembrance services to honour those who gave their lives, but today’s new 11am Sunday service marked an important addition to the village’s commemorations.

Thanks to Tina Morris, Councillor Maria Bennett and Formby Parish Council, residents now have the opportunity to gather at the village War Memorial at the traditional time of remembrance every Remembrance Sunday, regardless of whether it falls on 11 November.

Watch the full video on YouTube here…

The wonderful turnout demonstrated just how much this occasion means to local people.

It was particularly heartwarming to see veterans, older residents, young people and families all standing together in the heart of Formby Village.

In a world that often feels busy and divided, there was something incredibly special about seeing so many people united in silence, respect and gratitude.

No matter their age or background, everyone had come for the same reason.

To remember.

Thank You, Formby

Formby Bubble would like to say a heartfelt thank you to Tina Morris and Councillor Maria Bennett for their hard work in bringing this historic service to the village, and to Formby Parish Council for its support.

Thank you also to Reverend Cooke, Simon Davies, everyone who contributed readings and prayers, those who laid wreaths, and The Formby Club for its generous hospitality afterwards.

Most importantly, thank you to every single person who came along on this cold November morning to show their respect.

To the veterans who attended, we extend our deepest gratitude for your service.

And to those who made the ultimate sacrifice, we will never forget.

Today’s service was more than a ceremony. It was a beautiful reminder of what remembrance truly means and of the strength of community spirit here in Formby.

Hopefully, many years from now, future generations will continue to gather at this very same memorial at 11am every Remembrance Sunday, carrying forward the tradition that began today.

Remembrance Continues in Formby

Today’s historic morning service forms part of Formby’s wider Remembrance commemorations.

A further Remembrance Sunday service is taking place at 3pm today, Sunday 8 November, while residents will also have the opportunity to mark Armistice Day on Wednesday 11 November at 11am.

These occasions provide further opportunities for the community to come together and honour those who served and sacrificed their lives.

Lest We Forget 🌺

At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.

Photographs: Formby Bubble, Sunday 8 November 2026.