Join us for ‘Battle's Over - A Nation's Tribute’ on 11 November

Beacons of Light

The Council is one of over 1,000 organisations nationwide taking part in ‘Beacons of Light’, when we will light the Beacon in Priory Park, Reigate. The lit beacons symbolise the 'light of hope' that emerged from the darkness of war in commemoration and remembrance of the end of the conflict, the many millions who were killed or came home dreadfully wounded and those on the home front.

The event will begin at 6.45pm with an introduction given by the Mayor of Reigate & Banstead, Cllr Dorothy Ross-Tomlin, followed by a Tribute to the Millions read by a member of Reigate & Banstead Youth Council. 

Then at 6.55pm, buglers from Redhill Sea Cadets will sound the Last Post and, following a minute’s silence, the Rouse before the beacon is lit at 7pm. 

Afterwards, at 7.05pm church bells will toll around the borough in ‘Ringing Out for Peace’, when churches and organisations are being encouraged to ring bells as they did 100 years ago when news of the Armistice spread. 

The free event takes place in Priory Park, Reigate RH2 7RL, meeting outside Reigate Priory.

Beacons of Light’ is part of ‘Battle’s Over - A Nation's Tribute’, a unique series of events involving organisations and communities nationwide and across the globe to remember the sacrifice made by millions of men and women during World War One.

Remembrance Sunday services

In addition, the borough’s usual Remembrance Day services will take place in Redhill, Banstead and Horley.

The civic remembrance service, attended by the Mayor, will take place at Shaw’s Corner War Memorial. The civic procession will leave Redhill United Reform Church at 10.45am. A short service will be held at the memorial, followed at 10.58am by two minutes silence and then the laying of wreaths. A church service follows.

In Banstead, the parade, attended by the Deputy Mayor, Cllr Julian Ellacott, will leave the Horseshoe at 10.30am and process towards the War Memorial. The service will be followed by two minutes silence at 10.58am and then wreath laying. 

Horley’s remembrance parade will leave from Consort Way West at 10.35 and proceed to Vicarage Lane, where the parade will break off and walk to the War Memorial Gardens. A two minutes silence at 10.58 will be followed by wreath laying.

Enormous sacrifice

“We are proud to be playing a part in this historic time commemorating the centenary of the end of the Great War, and to recognise the enormous contribution and sacrifice made by the men and women from our community who died or were wounded, as well as those who worked tirelessly at home to support the war effort”, said the Mayor. “Please come along and join us in remembering them. 

“These important events will mark the culmination of the Council’s four-year ‘Reigate & Banstead Remembers’ First World War centenary commemorations.”

More information

For more information about our Beacons of Light event see the First World War centenary commemorative events page.

Battle's Over - a nations tribute

The brainchild of Pageantmaster Bruno Peek LVO OBE OPR, ‘Battle’s Over’ takes place on 11 November 2018, with events throughout the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and overseas, including New Zealand, Ireland, Australia,
Bermuda, France, Belgium, Canada, the United States and Germany.

It encourages local organisations and groups to get involved in a range of events, including:

• 6am ‘Battle’s O’er’ – 1,600 lone pipers will play the traditional Scottish air, played after a battle, outside cathedrals, churches, in town squares and on hilltops, followed by the reading of a specially written tribute. 
• At the same time, over 1,000 pipers will play in locations within their local communities. 
• 6.55pm Last Post - to be sounded by buglers at Beacon sites around the country.
• 7pm Beacons of Light – 1,300 beacons will be lit throughout the UK, inspired by a comment made on 3 August 1914 by Britain’s Foreign Minister, Sir Edward Grey: “The lamps are going out all over Europe; we shall not see them lit again in
• our lifetime.”
• 7.05pm Ringing Out for Peace - bells in more than 1,200 churches and cathedrals to be rung.
• Also at 7.05 Cry for Peace Around the World - more than 140 town criers will perform a specially written, the first of them in New Zealand and then across the globe.

For more information see the national ‘Battle’s Over’ website.

Armistice 100

The Government (DCMS) is also encouraging bells to ring out at 12.30pm on Sunday 11 November to replicate the spontaneous outpouring of relief that took place in 1918 as part of Armistice 100.