The Drumhead Service

The Drumhead Service will be held on 7th July 2024 at East Farm, Fovant, Wiltshire SP3 5JD 

Each year, since 1961, the Fovant Badges Society has held a Drumhead Service of Remembrance at East Farm Fovant courtesy of the landowner Mr Ed Williams. The service is held at 3 p.m. on the first Sunday in July this being the closest to the 1st of July, the first day of the Battle of the Somme in 1916. It is a very moving service being attended by many standard bearers from The Royal British Legion. There is usually an Honour Guard from a regiment of the army and a contingent from the Wiltshire Army Cadet Corps attends and provides invaluable help to the organisers. Representatives from the armed services and the Australian Army also attend as well as representatives of County and Town Councils. Each year we invite a Guest of Honour to speak at the service. In 2016 our Patron HRH The Duke of Edinburgh KG GCVO provided a memorable address.

Around 300 members of the public attend and one of the high points is the reading by a Wiltshire Army Cadet of the “Fovant Poem”. The Shaftesbury Town Band has provided the musical accompaniment to the service for many years. Afterwards, and weather permitting, afternoon tea are provided in the garden of East Farm and the Shaftesbury Town Band continue to entertain our guests there.