WHITEHILL Town Council has agreed to host the town’s remembrance service on Sunday, November 11 - and not on the preceding Friday.

Councillors were warned that if they held Bordon’s Remembrance Service on “the wrong day” the Royal British Legion and the REME (Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers) Association would not attend.

The comments came after the town council toyed with the idea of having this year’s centenary service, to mark the end of the First World War, on Friday, November 9.

Having written to groups which attend the annual fixture, such as schools and Scouts, the town council felt there was a slight preference for a week day.

Also, there was a concern that, as this is the 100-year anniversary, certain dignitaries, like East Hampshire MP Damian Hinds, would be at larger services.

But this idea ruffled feathers, with the chairman of the REME Association, Bordon and District Branch, Barry Farrington, writing to the council to say: “Any Remembrance event on November 9 will not be attended by my members.”

The Royal British Legion’s Thom Ferguson told councillors, in July, that if they held the event on November 9, they would “not get the support of the Royal British Legion”. It was felt the tradition of holding the service on Sunday mattered far more than any of the town council’s concerns about attendees.

And, according to Legion member Darron Back, who also spoke on behalf of the REME Association, residents broadly agree.

Last year, the town council took over the organisation of the event after former organiser Steve Johnson, from the Legion, stood down.

The council held the 2017 service on Friday, November 10 - a decision which did not go down well with some. Mr Back said that he received more than 50 complaints about the choice of date.

At their full council meeting on Monday, September 3, councillors agreed that Sunday, November 11, was indeed the best day for the service.

Councillor Sally Pond told members that, after the working party’s considerable discussion: “We all came away deciding there could be no other date.”

REME Association secretary Gregor Anderson told council members: “Just remember, it is Remembrance Sunday.”

But he left the meeting that happy everyone was on the same page.

“Thank you for making that decision,” he added.

The Armistice of November 11, 1918, saw the end of fighting between the Allies and Germany.

The date and the 11am signing have since become emblematic of the lives lost during the war and in subsequent military engagements.

A two-minute silence is traditionally held on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.