Rye Remembers
Remembrance Sunday falls on 09 November 2025 and is an opportunity for the community to remember the service and sacrifice of all those who have defended our freedoms and protected our way of life.
RYE CIVIC REMEMBRANCE DAY PARADE AND SERVICE
Remembrance Sunday
SERVICE -The Service will be held in Rye Parish Church from 10.55 am (1055hrs) starting with a welcome and a two minute silence. Afterwards we will move to the War Memorial where there will be the observation of a further one minute silence and the laying of wreaths and crosses.
REHEARSAL – Friday before the event at 1800 hrs – a short rehearsal for all Standard Bearers, Escorts and Clergy in the Church under the direction of the RBL. Please do attend.
PARADE – Sunday, by 1020hrs, gather at Adams or Market Street as instructed At 1030 hrs, detachments, under the direction of the Parade Commander (Uniformed Sea Cadet Officer OR Chair RBL OR RBL Standard Bearer), will form by 1040 ready to march up East St past in front of the Town Hall.
ORDER OF COLUMN ON PARADE:-
| 1. Royal British Legion (RBL)
2. Former Service organisations 3. Sea Cadet Corps 4. RNLI 5. Scouts, Guides Cubs andBrownies |
6. Police, Fire and Ambulance
7. National Civil organisations 8. Rye Schools 9. Rye District civil organisations and clubs |
By 1040hrs: The Mayor of Rye will be prepared to “take the salute” in front of Rye Town Hall; parade marches on to the South Door of the Church. (Scaffolding in place at West End).
1045 hrs: The Standards and escorts will hold on the grass opposite the South Door. Paraders (except Standards and close escorts) will enter the Church by South Door and take marked seats indicated by the stewards.
10.45 hrs – Clergy and choir joins at south door.
10.50 hrs – Mayoral procession will leaves the Town Hall and proceeds to the south door via west end of churchyard. Party holds on path to the west of south door.
10.55hrs RBL signals entry into the Church:
- Clergy, Wardens and choir.
- Mayoral procession
- Short pause: The Standard Bearers enter and advance in slow march up the aisle, where they line up facing the altar, with the Jack nearest the Mayor. Escorts continue across Church to the North Transept.
- After Rector’s welcome, two minute silence signalled by maroon on Salts. During the Silence the Standard Bearers will Dip Standards (Great care to avoid members of the congregation).
After the silence and during the first hymn, Standard Bearers will slow March to the altar rail, and hand their Standards to the Rector (supported by RBL). After handing in their standards bearers will turn left and take seats with the escorts in the Transept.
The first lesson will be read by the Mayor and the second by President RBL.
At the start of the FINAL hymn, standard bearers WITHOUT escorts will form in line at the Altar Rail to retrieve their Standards.
The Rector, assisted by the RBL, will return Standards. Standard Bearers will form up in front of the Chancel Choir stalls inclined inwards, with the Jack nearest the Crossing facing the Congregation. Rector calls for the National Anthem. Standards will be dipped at the start of the National Anthem and raised again at the end. The RBL standard leads the dipping and recovery.
The Blessing will be given by the Rector after which Standard Bearers, led by the RBL will slow March down the centre aisle. Escorts join smartly. All march to the War Memorial via the SOUTH door followed by the Clergy, Mayoral party, RBL and other contingents.
The Wreath Bearers will leave by the EAST door as directed by RBL. The congregation will remain seated until the procession has cleared the centre aisle. Once the centre aisle is clear, the congregation will leave the church by the SOUTH door.
At the Memorial: Allocation of position will be under the direction of the RBL.
- North: Bugler (if in attendance) takes post at the buttress between the Memorial and the East door.
- North: Clergy and choir form on grass between Memorial and right of East door.
- North: Mayoral party form two lines on asphalt immediately in front of the East door.
- East: Standard Bearers form line on the path (avoid overhanging trees) with escorts and remainder of parade immediately behind.
- South: Wreath bearers fill on the pathway opposite Methodist Church
- West: remainder of the congregation and public
Service: RBL signals to Rector that the congregation is in place. Order of Service will be:
- Rector – Opening prayer
- (Any roll call of fallen by RBL)
- Exhortation by RBL
- Bugler (if present) – Sounds the Last Post
- All – One minute silence
- Bugler (if present) – Sounds Reveille
- Kohima Epitaph by RBL
- Lay wreaths: order called by RBL (see below)
- Schoolchildren – place crosses
- Rector – Final Blessing
- J)Parade Commander seeks permission and dismisses parade.
Order of laying wreaths – The Mayor; other elected members; any Regular or Reserve Military; Rye Branch RBL, other Rye RBL; Armed Forces Associations; Cadet Service Organisations; Civilian Services; Voluntary Sector; Youth Organisations; Other Civil Organisations and then Individuals. Crosses will then be placed around the Memorial by the Young people.
Dress – Cold weather clothing; Chains of Office with any FULL SIZE medals. RBL in parade dress.
Disabled area at Memorial: to the South
Memorial and surrounding area: cautious of overhanging branches. NO parking at Memorial. Signage.
ATBK Colonel
President Rye RBL
Every day ex-service personnel, living with the impacts of serving their country, come to the Royal British Legion for support. Wearing a red poppy shows you care and helps the RBL support those who struggle with life after service. Please support the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal and help continue its vital work.
Rye & District Branch of the Royal British Legion was formed in the 1920’s and now holds its meetings in March, June, September & November (AGM), please contact us for dates, venue and times.
The Royal British Legion provides financial, social and emotional support to all those who have served and are currently serving in the Armed Forces, as well as their dependents. Anyone who has served in the forces for seven days or more is eligible for our help.
Unfortunately we are unable to assist with requests for help and assistance at a local level, for all inquiries please follow the link Help & Support or all the Freephone number – 0808 8028080 – at any time between 8am and 8pm, 7 days a week. Calls from landlines and from most mobile networks will be entirely free of charge.
The Royal British Legion is the nation’s custodian of Remembrance, ensuring that people remember those who have given their lives for the freedom we enjoy today. The Rye British Legion fully support Rye’s civic acts of Remembrance, usually led by the Mayor and Town Council.
Rye British Legion also maintains a close liaison with other Service organisations in the District; we are also closely linked with Rye Sea Cadets as well as acting as a focus for local veterans issues.
For information on how to join the Rye British Legion please follow the link Members of the Royal British Legion
Updated – 24 October 2025