Burgess Hill remembrance: Large crowds turn out for poppy lantern procession

Large crowds turned out for a poppy lantern procession in Burgess Hill last night to mark Remembrance Day.
Large crowds turned out for the lantern procession in Burgess Hill last night to mark Remembrance Day. Photo by Eddie HowlandLarge crowds turned out for the lantern procession in Burgess Hill last night to mark Remembrance Day. Photo by Eddie Howland
Large crowds turned out for the lantern procession in Burgess Hill last night to mark Remembrance Day. Photo by Eddie Howland

The procession started from the town's war memorial to St John's Park.

The lanterns were made by residents of all ages and each bore the name of one of the 145 servicemen named on the town’s great war memorial.

Large crowds turned out for the lantern procession in Burgess Hill last night to mark Remembrance Day. Photo by Eddie HowlandLarge crowds turned out for the lantern procession in Burgess Hill last night to mark Remembrance Day. Photo by Eddie Howland
Large crowds turned out for the lantern procession in Burgess Hill last night to mark Remembrance Day. Photo by Eddie Howland
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After the procession arrived at St John's Park there was a short ceremony of First World War songs, poems and readings, concluding with the Last Post and lighting of the town’s beacon by relatives of four of the men named on the war memorial.

A spokesman for Burgess Hill Town Council said packed crowds filled the town yesterday to show their respect and to pay tribute to the fallen.

Later in the morning, large crowds packed Church Walk for the morning remembrance ceremony at the war memorial and the remembrance service at St John’s Church afterwards.

Packed crowds filled Burgess Hill yesterday to show their respect and to pay tribute to the fallen. Photo by Eddie HowlandPacked crowds filled Burgess Hill yesterday to show their respect and to pay tribute to the fallen. Photo by Eddie Howland
Packed crowds filled Burgess Hill yesterday to show their respect and to pay tribute to the fallen. Photo by Eddie Howland
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As the congregation left the service, members of the Sussex County Association of Change Ringers rang a three-hour full half-muffled peal on the bells of St John’s Church.

Burgess Hill’s WW1 Centenary events concluded with the church bells of St John’s ringing out in celebration of peace.