Leading London event caterer, Seasoned served as exclusive hospitality caterer for 10,000 people commemorating the Armistice Day centenary.
The commencement of the Nation’s Thank You procession was witnessed on Sunday 11th November, whereby people who were selected through a public ballot, joined a procession past the Cenotaph, paying their respects to British and Commonwealth military and civilian servicemen and women.
This unique commemoration marked the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice agreement at the end of the First World War, which famously took place at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918.
10,000 people lead by over 300 musicians from various marching bands, gathered at the Mall assembly area from 8am, eventually marching towards the Cenotaph based in Whitehall. The public procession followed the Royal British Legion Veterans’ parade, and covered around 2,000m in total.
The Cenotaph, an ever-lasting war memorial, has become the focal point for remembrance and commemoration events since the First World War, symbolising the unprecedented loss of lives of servicemen and women ever since.
Much planning and organisation went into every aspect of the day to accommodate such a huge number of people of various backgrounds. Seasoned set up 10 marquees as service stations strategically based around the Mall to aid efficient distribution of an array of energising refreshments. Seasoned’s offering reflected the diversity of the demographic it was serving taking into consideration special diets and allergies.
Members of the Royal Family, religious leaders, politicians, representatives of state and the armed forces, all gathered to pay respect to those who gave their lives defending others, laying official wreaths on the steps of the Cenotaph. Hymns were sung and prayers were said, followed by the two minute silence. The ceremony ended with the march past war veterans; a poignant gesture of respect for fallen comrades.
Managing Partner at Seasoned, Colin Sayers, said “Armistice Day is a huge part of our history and we at Seasoned are extremely proud to have been involved and be able to pay our respects by serving descendants and family members of those who fought to serve others. We knew we were catering for a monumental and diverse audience, therefore a high level of planning and organisation was dedicated to this day, as it was important to us to deliver refreshments in a smooth and efficient way so that the attention remains on ‘The People’s Procession’ and nothing else”