Hardwick Hall Commemoration Service 2025

• Sat 10 May 2025, 10:00 1 week ago
• Location: Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire

You are invited to join us at the Venue from 10am onwards when we will hold a commemorative parade and lay a wreath to remember all those who passed through these hallowed grounds many of whom did not return, or were deeply scarred. The event will be supported by the Regimental Mascot and a Band.

The old Hardwick Hall is steeped in history going back hundreds of years and was a love nest of ‘Beth of Hardwick’. It is now looked after and maintained by The National Trust and visitor’s can gained access to the hall via the National Trust if you wish.

The commemoration will take place on Saturday 10 May 2025 at Hardwick Hall, which was the first ever Airborne Training Depot situate in Derbyshire, close to Chesterfield where all potential Paras went to train.

The old camp is no longer there but was situated at the bottom of the hill, with brick billets arranged around the lakes which still exist today. Those who in 1940 onwards volunteered to join the Airborne Forces were sent to be tested for their suitability to become one of the elite Airborne Forces. This was their ‘P’ Company?

It remained the training depot until 1946 and should not be confused with RAF Ringway which was the first ever, No1 Parachute Training School, where the early Para’s honed their skills at being thrown into the slip stream from mostly bomber aircraft

Entrance to the parade area is free but those attending must use the car park. Those who have ‘mobility or disabilities issues’ can make use of the parade free transport to get from the car park to the parade area. The address is:

Hardwick Hall,
Doe Lea,
Chesterfield,
Derbyshire, S44 5QJ … Map it …

N.B
Access to the grounds is gained Via the entrance at, Post Code S44 5RW this will take you to the gate leading uphill through the grounds to the house. Hardwick Hall is approx 2 miles from junction 29 of M1 motorway and is sign posted on motorway and other roads.

Timings:

10:00hrs      Arrive

11:00hrs       March On

11:15hrs        Parade Starts to Include Service of Remembrance and Wreath Laying.

12:10hrs       March Past (Salute taken by Col Andy Wareing)

12:19hrs       Flypast (2 x Spitfires)

The parade will finish at approx 12:30hrs when visitors are free to look round the area of the  memorial stone commemorating the 1941 formation by the early pioneers of Airborne Forces of the 1^st Airborne Brigade and subsequently the school of Airborne Forces where volunteers from Britain and her Allies received this specialist training.

Reception There will be refreshments after the parade at the Doe Lea Social Club, Chesterfield, S44 5PP,  which is within a half mile of Jct 29 of the M1, near Chesterfield.  A buffet will be served from around 14:00hrs.  Admission by ticket (purchased at the door and at Hardwick Hall) price £5.00.  All proceeds go to The Parachute Regimental Association and towards the cost of putting on and maintaining the Hardwick Hall event each year

Contact:
Lisa Turner, Email: chesterfieldpra@live.co.uk or Mobile: 07751674107.

---

Event Location

Hardwick Hall Visitors Car Park
Chesterfield
S44 5QJ

Get directions