Sir Lindsay Hoyle was 'proud to honour' former Chorley MP's son killed in WW1 at special ceremony
“We paid tribute to an important name from Chorley”
Chorley MP Sir Lindsay Hoyle today paid a poignant tribute in Parliament to the only son of his predecessor who was killed in the First World War.
At a special 'Turning the Page' ceremony on Armistice Day, the House of Commons Speaker remembered Captain Cyril Gordon Reuss Hibbert, of the 1st/4th Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, who was killed during the fighting at Festubert, Northern France, in June 1915.
Speaking after the service, Sir Lindsay said he “was proud to honour” the son of Sir Henry Hibbert, MP for Chorley between 1913 and 1918, “who had spoken of the profound strain of losing his son”.
“We paid tribute to an important name from Chorley in Westminster to reflect the loss and the price that people paid in ensuring the way of life we enjoy today,” Sir Lindsay said.
Born in 1888, and educated at Shrewsbury School, Cyril was commissioned in 1908 and rose to the rank of Captain before serving in France during the First World War.
Captain Hibbert was last seen directing his men through a gap in the trenches and into battle.
He was reported missing on 15 June 1915, aged 27.
His body was never recovered, but his name is perpetuated on the Le Touret Memorial.
Cyril's parents later gave the tenor bell at St George's Church, Chorley, in his memory, which is inscribed with the words: 'The path of duty was the way to glory.'
His name also appears on the Recording Angel Memorial in Westminster Hall.
Sir Lindsay led the Turning of the Page ceremony on Armistice Day, with Peter Wilson, Deputy Leader of Chorley Council reading the citation.
The service took place moments after the Speaker observed a two-minute silence and laid a wreath with the Lord Speaker in St Stephen’s Porch.
Karen Spilka, President of the Massachusetts Senate, also a read a poem.
Sir Lindsay launched the Turning the Page ceremony in May 2025 to commemorate the lives of MPs, their children, and officers of the House whose lives were cut short during both World Wars.
Since then, an MP or visiting VIP turns the page of one of Parliament's Books of Remembrance on a sitting Wednesday at 11:00 hrs to read out the names of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.
The poignant occasion takes place in Lower Waiting, and all parliamentary passholders, their guests, and members of the public, are very welcome to watch the ceremony, which includes a pause for reflection.