Commemorations

'Weeping Window'

Cromer decided to create a 'Weeping Window' for the 75th anniversary of VE and VJ days in 2020. With the help of many volunteers and the design of Sue Mears, hundreds of poppies were created - and then came the pandemic. All had to be put on hold until the display could be appreciated by all.

After nearly two years of waiting, it was decided to create the window for the weekend of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, 2nd-5th June 2022; many more volunteers assisted in the final creation. This video is a record of the creation and display of the poppies, with photographs of those names on the memorial.

We would mention that nearly all those who served in the Forces in the First World War have their photographs in the Roll of Honour in the church. We have been able to gather some photographs of those who served in the Second World war; if you can help extend and complete that collection, please contact this site with information and hopefully a picture. You will find the listing of names in the WW2 section menu on the left of this page.

Armistice Centenary 2018

The town's War Memorial was first dedicated in 1921, some three years after the Armistice which ended the First World War on 11th November 1918. To mark the centenary of the Armistice, Cromer held a series of events over the weekend of the 10th-11th November 2018. Some of the events are recorded in this video below.

On the Saturday morning three new blue plaques were unveiled. These are on the houses where men who served in the forces in that war grew up. The plaques are intended to represent all who served and particularly those who died whilst serving.

Over the four years 2014-2018 the Town Council had been busy fund-raising to restore the War Memorial. The stonework had weathered over the century, the statues had worn away and had had temporary repairs and the Honour Roll for the Second World War and subsequent conflicts had not been updated. With work completed, the Saturday afternoon included a service to rededicate the memorial. This was carried out by Cromer minister Jennie Hodgkinson; it was unveiled by Marquess Townshend, whose grandfather had carried out the first ceremony in 1921.

At 6am a lone piper played the air "Battles O'Er" at the Memorial, a ceremony matched across the United Kingdom. At 11 am, the moment of the Armistice, the church clock struck the hour and the town fell silent to remember those whose lives had been lost. This was followed in the afternoon by a full parade service when representatives from across the community gathered at the memorial to lay their wreaths.

To mark the joyous celebrations which had taken place on 11th November 1918 for the end of the war, the Sunday evening included a torch-lit procession to the cliff-top and the lighting of a beacon, a ceremony replicated again at hundreds of sites around the United Kingdom.