Ashford and Tenterden Remembers 2026

Ashford Borough Council is pleased to announce that The Royal British Legion will hold its annual Remembrance Sunday service at Ashford’s Memorial Gardens on Sunday 8 November 2026.

Dignitaries, invited representatives and veterans will be invited into the Garden of Remembrance where the Mayor of Ashford, Councillor Winston Michael, and other distinguished guests will be in attendance.

The timings for the Service of Remembrance are as follows:

10.50 a.m. Parade brought to attention

10.55 a.m. Procession of dignitaries in position

10.57 a.m. Exhortation

10.58 a.m. The Last Post 

11.00 a.m. Two minutes silence

11.02 a.m. Reveille and The Kohima Epitaph

11.04 a.m. The laying of wreaths followed by the service

Those wishing to go along are advised to arrive ten minutes before the start of the service, although the gardens themselves will be open to the public from 10 a.m. 

Residents are most welcome to attend, however for better viewing of the service and for health and safety reasons, please congregate from the lower section of the gardens rather than from Church Road as the majority of the service will take place towards the bottom of the gated area (gardens side).

Whilst there will be no public access to the Garden of Remembrance (gated area) during the service, there will be a large viewing screen and those wishing to view and lay their own wreaths and crosses may do so once the area is reopened at the end of the service. 

Free parking will be available to attendees at Elwick Road Car Park (TN23 1LH) between 8am to 1pm, which is only a short walk from the Memorial Gardens along Church Road.

A selection of photographs capturing the service will be shared on our website and across our social media channels following the event.

Sunday service at St Mary the Virgin Church

At 9.30 a.m. on 8 November, there will be a special Remembrance Sunday service at St Mary the Virgin church in the centre of Ashford, attended by the Mayor and Armed Forces representatives. The service will include hymns, prayers, and music with organ and choir. It will finish in good time for people to make the short walk to the Memorial Gardens and prepare for the service that follows there at 10.50 a.m.

Tenterden service

A parade will take place from Recreation Ground Road at 10.30 a.m. which will proceed towards the Tenterden War Memorial, for a service which starts at 10.50 a.m. The service will include the reading of the names on the War Memorial as well as the laying of wreaths.

The service will end at 11.25 a.m. and there will be a parade back to Tenterden Town Hall for the dismissal. Can residents take note that the A28 from Recreation Ground Road to the junction at West Cross will be closed to vehicles from 10.25 am to 11.40 a.m.

Armistice Day

On Wednesday 11 November, maroons will be fired at Civic Park at 11am and again at 11.02am as we pause and take two minutes to pay respects to our Armed Forces community, past and present on Armistice Day. 

Access across Civic Park will be restricted during this time for the safety of everyone. Members of the public are welcome to attend the short service in the Memorial Gardens to observe the two minutes of silence where the Mayor of Ashford will be joined by the Deputy Lieutenant of Kent, Sir George Jessel and Romanian Ambassador to the UK, Her Excellency Mrs Laura Popescu.

Poppy Appeal

If you would like to support this year’s Poppy Appeal, you can buy a poppy from International House or visit Ashford's Royal British Legion office on Church Road (TN23 1RA).

View more information on the history and importance of Remembrance.