Starting on Sunday at St John the Baptist Church in High Barnet, Theresa Villiers, MP for Chipping Barnet, has attended a series of ceremonies to mark a hundred years since the outbreak of the First World War.
Barnet council's civic service at St John's church was attended by the representative Deputy Lord Lieutenant, Martin Russell, the representative of Her Majesty the Queen in the borough; by the Mayor and Mayoress, Cllr Hugh Rayner and Mrs Susan Rayner; and by civic representatives from Barnet's twin towns in France and Germany.
Following the ceremony, Theresa said "The Great War changed the world forever. By the end of the conflict, 6,146,000 had seen service of which 761,000 were killed and 1,600,000 were wounded. Reflecting the astonishing levels of bravery shown by members of the British armed services, no less than 615 Victoria Crosses were awarded."
"Today's service was a moving commemoration and a reminder of the huge sacrifice made by men from Barnet who volunteered to serve in the Great War. Right across the borough we have memorials reminding us of those who made the ultimate sacrifice."
Theresa was also one of a number of members of the Cabinet who joined the Prime Minister and HRH the Prince of Wales at a ceremony in Glasgow Cathedral yesterday morning to mark the huge contribution made by soldiers from across what is now the Commonwealth and was then the British Empire.
In the afternoon, she flew to Belfast for a ceremony in St Anne's Cathedral followed by a candlelit vigil at the Cenotaph in City Hall at 11pm, exactly one hundred years after the UK declared war on Germany at 11pm on 4th August 1914.
Theresa concluded the day saying: "All the ceremonies I have attended over recent days have had reconciliation at their heart. That was particularly clear in Belfast where the participation of Irish Minister, Heather Humphreys, was a recognition that thousands served in the British Army in WWI from throughout the island of Ireland, with men fighting side by side from both the unionist and nationalist traditions."
"This centenary and further ones to come in the next few years provide an important opportunity to reflect on the complex and shared history between the UK and Ireland in an atmosphere of reconciliation and inclusiveness."
Other World War One related events in which Theresa has participated over recent weeks include services at East Barnet Baptist Church, St Peter's Church in Arkley, and Glasnevin Cemetary in Dublin. She plans to be present for further commemorations later in the month to remember John Parr the 16 year old from Finchley who was the first British soldier to die in the war.