Professor Lee Marsden, from the Fellowship, attends the alternative Remembrance Service in London
On 9th November 2025 peacemakers from around the country gathered in central London for the National Alternative Remembrance Service. The autumn leaves were shaken from the trees that have lived on throughout many wars. As the leaves gently fell, a multitude of shapes and colours, added poignancy to an act of remembrance for all victims of war. This focus on all victims was a theme developed by Rachel Taylor from Every Casualty Counts as she revealed a new project, Memorial 2025, dedicated to telling the stories of this year’s victims of war, ensuring every life lost in conflict is recognised. The Alternative Service organisers from the Peace Pledge Union (PPU) read three moving short memorials for specific named victims of war in Cameroon, Darfur and Gaza, bringing to life the stories of those dismissed as simply collateral damage.
Over three hundred people gathered in Tavistock Square to remember the dead, challenge militarism and demonstrate a commitment to peace. The PPU were supported by representatives of Veterans for Peace, Movement for the Abolition of War, The Green Party, and Fellowship of Reconciliation. Alongside official representatives, many others attended in a personal capacity, each determined to put an end to war. The event was hosted by comedian and activist, Kate Smurthwaite and there was an impassioned address by Mark Rylance, award winning playwright, actor and peace activist. He channelled an imaginary conversation with Thomas Cromwell in the television drama, Wolf Hall. The focus? Innocent victims of war, particularly children. He highlighted the ratio of military to civilian deaths changing over the past century from 90 percent military to 10 percent civilian deaths to 90 percent civilian and 10 percent military. Following the talk there was a two-minute silence, followed by the laying of wreaths and individual white poppies on the dark grey boulder installed in remembrance of conscientious objectors. It was a privilege to lay a wreath on behalf of the Fellowship and to join with others in pausing to remember all victims of war and to join the shared commitment not just to peace, but to ridding war of the scourge of conflict.
