The Royal British Legion Kirtlington Branch are very active in the local community. We have recently conducted the annual Rememberance Parade and service on 11th November, which was, as always very well attended by the village members. The parade was led by the Royal British Legion standard and the members of the branch and other ex-service personnel, followed by the Choir, the Vicar, the cubs, scouts and local children and the village. We paraded from the church to the cenotaph, where we held a service of rememberance and played the last post. The standard was lowered by our standard bearer, David Meade. Prayers were said, hymns sung and wreaths laid. Edward Macfarlane, Vice Chairman, laid the branch wreath. John Thorneloe, President, laid a wreath for his son Lt Colonel Rupert Thorneloe, Commanding Officer of the Welsh Guards, tragically killed in action in Afghanistan in 2009. The cubs and scouts also laid a wreath and then we observed 2 minutes silence. The parade then marched back to the church and a beautiful service of rememberance followed.
The Royal British Legion supports injured soldiers, their families and their next of kin to the tune of £1.7m per week, every week of the year. The Royal British Legion raises over £40m a year to fund this service and provides a critical lifeline to injured and bereaved soldiers and their families.