Nostalgia with Robert Heaven

Remembrance of Parades Past.

THE anniversary of the ending of the First World War has channelled the thoughts and feelings of many and has lead to great outpourings of feeling across the nation.

Ciren is no exception to this as the enormous human poppy in the Market Place gives testament.

At one time anniversaries such as the ending of the Great War, or Armistice day as it rightly called, would be marked with great pomp and there would be bands and processions through the streets to the war Memorial where military honour would blend with civic pride to pay respects to those lost in the wars.

I was talking to local Counsellor Roly Hughes about this recently and he reminded me that back when we were young, Ciren had proper military bands that served the town on such occasions. The Army would frequently assemble at Cecily Hill, and the RAF from the other end of the town, to march into town and on meeting, to break into the same tune as they met in the market place.

The combined bands would then assemble at the war memorial where wreathes would be laid.

When the service at the War Memorial was over both forces would lead off through the town, down Dyer street, up around the Forum, back through the Market Place where a further salute would take place, and then down Castle Street to Sheep Street where there would be formal salute at the old Memorial chapel (the part of the hospital opposite the main Memorial Hospital building). The parade would disband by the coal yard at the end of the former Canal wharf in Sheep street.

As well as the important Armistice parade, there were many other military parades through the town and the Glorious Gloucesters would regularly muster in the Market Place.

There were other parades too - the Scouts, Guides, Ciren Town Band and of course the popular Phoenix Majorettes - more about which soon.