Following the decision by Thames Valley Police to remove support for Remembrance Day Parades this year, citing that "the Police do not have legal powers to stop or control traffic for pre-planned events," considerable work has been carried out behind the scenes, to source the necessary Traffic Management provision to comply with the law and ensure that Arborfield and Barkham can continue to hold a Remembrance Day Parade.



The Arborfield, Barkham and District Branch of the RBL are proud to announce that on behalf of the respective Parish Councils, we have been able to secure the provision of the necessary Traffic Management services, thanks to the generosity of Balfour Beatty, who have kindly stepped in, and committed to provide the signage, equipment and staff, to ensure that the parade is able to take place.

Additionally, in a recent development, we are pleased to announce that Crest Nicholson at the Arborfield Green development have also kindly offered to assist by providing Stewards to assist with parking and pedestrian control at the service.



We are also delighted to be able to advise you that the Arborfield Military Wives' Choir are joining us for the service at The Cross and will also entertain those attending the Club following the parade.

We would also like to thank Lockey Farm Shop, for allowing us the use of their overflow car park, for those who are attending the service but not marching in the parade, and R&A Seal Ltd, of Ducks Nest Farm, for allowing us the use of their yard as a dedicated car park for those taking part in the parade, as this allows us to keep the car park at the RBL Club free of vehicles, to allow the parade to assemble safely.



The Arborfield, Barkham & District Branch are proud to announce that this year we will be joined by two "THERE BUT NOT THERE" perspex silhouette figures at the Remembrance Day service, representing two of the WW1 soldiers that gave their lives during the conflict. Thanks to a grant from the Armed Forces Covenant, the two silhouettes should arrive by the end of October and will be ours to keep. They will be available to attend other Remembrance events in our area and, if you would like to request their attendance at your event, please email the Branch Chairman at Arborfield.Chairman@RBL.Community.

Please keep an eye out for them at our Churches and Schools, where we hope that they will be able to make regular appearances. As this is their first year, they will be representing the 2 soldiers who are laid to rest locally:

Pte AJ Barnfield (Northamptonshire Regt), who died on the 21st December 1915 aged 21 (St Bartholomew's Church in Arborfield), and

Pte F St.Q V Lailey (Royal Warwickshire Regt), who died on the 6th June 1918, aged 19 (St James' Church in Barkham).

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If you have not already done so, please

REGISTER NOW TO TAKE PART IN THIS YEAR'S PARADE!

Owing to the significance of this year's event, we anticipate that the numbers attending may be greater than in previous years, and we have already reached 250 registered participants.

The service at Arborfield Cross is, of course, open to everyone, and we hope that hundreds will attend. The parade however, is more of a challenge to organise, as the form-up and march-off times will be dependant on the length of the parade, so it is important that we have as much advance warning as possible, of the numbers likely to take part.

The order of precedence for the laying of wreaths will also be based on those that have registered to take part and requested to lay a wreath. If you have not registered to lay a wreath, you will not be called forward, and will only be able to lay your wreath at the conclusion of the formal wreath laying process.

To assist us to plan the timings and catering needs for the day (there is an open-invitation for all those attending to return to the RBL Club after the parade, where light refreshements will be served), it is vital that we have an accurate indication of the numbers attending and we are therefore asking that all groups wishing to attend the parade and/or the performance by the Military Wives' Choir (which follows the parade, and is being held at the RBL Club), and any groups or individuals that wish to march within the parade, register with us beforehand.

Once you have registered you will be notified of the details and timings for the day and any changes by email, as well as being able to return to check this page.

You can register by completing the form on the following link: Register Here

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2018 REMEMBRANCE PARADE DETAILS

TIMINGS

09:00 Briefing for Traffic Management, Marshals, Stewards, Emergency Medical Response and key personnel at the RBL Club

09:00 RBL Club Car Park (Car Park C) closes to vehicles until after the parade (pedestrian access only)

09:30 Car Parks open at Ducks' Nest Farm (Car Park A) and Lockey Farm (Car Park B)

10:00 Gates open for Parade participants to begin to assemble in the RBL Club Car Park

10:15 to 10:30 The parade will form up in the RBL Club Car Park

10:40 to 10:45 (depending on the final numbers attending) the Parade will set off and march along Eversley Road to the Cross, led by the Royal County of Berkshire ACF Band

10:50 The parade will arrive at the Cross and the Service will commence which will include the 2 minutes silence at 11:00

Following the service, and the laying of wreaths, the parade will re-assemble and march back along Eversley Road to the RBL Club, where it will disperse

After the parade has dispersed, the RBL Car Park (Car Park C) will re-open for public use

Please join us after the parade at the RBL Club, for light refreshments (tea, coffee and biscuits), provided free, by the RBL Branch, and enjoy a performance by the Arborfield Military Wives Choir.

13:00 Car Park A closes and gates will be locked. Please ensure that your vehicle is removed before 13:00

PARKING

A huge thank you to all of those who have already registered to take part in this year's parade. We are currently expecting in excess of 250 participants, the majority of which are children and young people.

I am sure that you will therefore appreciate, that with so many children in the marshalling area at the RBL Club, the decision has had to be made to close the RBL Car Park to the public, until after the parade has returned and safely dispersed.

To assist with this, parking arrangements have been made, thanks to the generosity of Mr Richard Seal of Ducks' Nest Farm (Car Park A - open from 09:30-13:00), and Mr Graham Adams of Lockey Farm (Car Park B), to allow participants in the parade to park at Ducks' Nest Farm, and spectators to park at Lockey Farm Overflow Car Park. As with all car parks, parking will be at your own risk and the RBL accept no liability for any loss or damage, however caused.

There will be a traffic light controlled pedestrian crossing installed for the day outside Ducks' Nest Farm to allow participants to safely cross the A327 and then walk up the footpath to the Club (about a 5 minute walk). We are also offering a passenger "Drop-off point" facility on the loop road adjacent to the Club, to drop your passengers off before parking at Car Park A.

To allow the free passage of vehicles, please avoid parking in the loop and, when dropping off please enter from the Link Way end, and exit via the junction next to the Club entrance.

An annotated aerial view of the village and instructions are available below, for your assistance: