Press release -
Remembrance Services: Honouring our fallen heroes
Remembrance Day services to be held across the borough
Residents across the borough will have chance to pay their respects to those who have given their lives in defence of the country at this year’s Remembrance Day Services.
Commemorations to salute the nation’s war heroes will be held on Remembrance Sunday (9 November), with six parades across the borough.
Representatives from the Navy, Army and Royal Air Force will join veterans and civic dignitaries for the parades, which will take place in Rochdale town centre, Heywood, Littleborough, Middleton, Milnrow and Wardle.
Members of the public are invited to attend to show their gratitude to servicemen and women down the decades.
The Mayor, Councillor Carol Wardle, said:
“This year will be particularly poignant as we will be commemorating 100 years since the outbreak of the First World War. As we remember all those who gave their lives and made huge sacrifices, the current operations in Afghanistan is a poignant reminder of the sacrifices our armed forces continue to make in order to preserve our freedom and I hope as many people as possible will join us for these ceremonies.”
And at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month (Tuesday 11 November) the Mayor, Councillor Carol Wardle, will lead a two minute silence, with prayers given by Reverend Canon Shackleton, at the town’s war memorial opposite the Rochdale Town Hall.
Councillor Alan McCarthy, Lead Member for the Armed Forces said the Royal British Legion does fantastic work, which it is really important to support and is encouraging everyone to wear their poppy with pride:
“It is so important we stop to remember the sacrifices made in the two wars and subsequent conflicts especially in this centenary year. The message of remembrance needs to be passed on to future generations. In Britain we remember those no longer serving, including those who have died for their country. It is a fundamental characteristic of human nature to remember and commemorate the fallen, not merely for the sake of our own peace of mind, but for the instruction of future generations that they might recognise the price of freedom.”
“Of course what we choose to remember, defines us both individually and collectively.
Remembrance functions on a number of levels, some deeply personal. It will mean different things to the comrade, the spouse, family, friends, children and grandchildren, - not forgetting the ordinary member of the wider society paying homage to the sacrifice of the fallen.”
From the last week of October until 11 November the Royal British Legion will hold its annual poppy appeal. The money raised by the sale of poppies is used to support British servicemen and women. They can be bought at Rochdale Town Hall, online at www.britishlegion.org.uk and from shops, supermarkets, pubs and other locations across the borough.
“As the generations that fought our two World Wars pass, the tradition that connects us to these events fades by degrees and the duty of remembrance devolves to those of us who thankfully have not known war. Until the day comes when nations learn how to resolve their differences without the exercise of military force, remembrance will be a permanent feature of our existence. The sacrifice of those who earned our freedoms is not forgotten.”
Added Councillor McCarthy.
At the Rochdale service a very special piece of innovative artwork will be unveiled – the ‘21st Century Cenotaph Viewpoint’ project produced by local artist John Cooke based on the Rochdale Cenotaph. Commissioned by Rochdale Township, the artwork will soon be available as a mobile display for local school and colleges.
Parade details
- HEYWOOD
10:15am Parade meets at the Heywood Public House on Tower Street,
Heywood (anytime from 09.30am)
10:30am Parade sets off from Tower St, left to St James’ Street, right onto Bridge St, along Market Street, Market Place and right onto Hind Hill Street, left into Heywood Memorial Gardens.
10:45am Parade arrives at Hind Hill St and the Gardens
10:55 to 11:15am Remembrance Service at the Memorial Gardens
11:20am Parade sets off for march past from Hind Hill St, via Pine St, Hornby St, Church St (for salute) and march back up Market Place, Market Street, Bridge Street, St James Street back to the Heywood Pub.
- LITTLEBOROUGH
10.30am Assemble at Council Offices, Hare Hill Park.
10.40am Parade leaves for Cenotaph.
10.55am Service at Cenotaph.
11.20am Parade returns to Hare Hill Park.
- MIDDLETON
10.15am Assemble facing the Harbord Harbord on Long Street.
10.25am Parade leaves for Middleton Remembrance Gardens.
10.45am Service begins.
- MILNROW
10.30am Assemble at Milnrow Library, Newhey Road, Milnrow.
10.40am Parade leaves for Cenotaph.
10.55am Service at Cenotaph.
11.20am Parade returns to Milnrow Library.
- ROCHDALE
10.15am Organisations assemble in Mere Street, Rochdale.
10.30am Parade leaves for Cenotaph via Drake Street.
10.45am Ward Councillors, Magistrates, Officers and other civic guests assemble in the Town Hall Exchange.
10.50am Service at the Cenotaph. At the end of march past, Mayoral Party returns to Rochdale Town Hall and parade goes to Packer Street.
-
WARDLE
2.15pm Assemble at Village Square, Wardle.
2.30pm Parade leaves for Cenotaph.
3.00pm Service at Cenotaph.
3.30pm Parade returns to village square.
For more details visit www.rochdale.gov.uk/events
The council signed the Armed Forces Community Covenant in 2012, aimed at encouraging communities to support services that promote and encourage activities that help integrate armed forces personnel back into civilian life. Current or ex Armed Forces personnel can register for help or get more information by visiting www.rochdale.gov.uk/armedforces If they encounter difficulties when accessing services from the council or its partners email armedforces@rochdale.gov.uk or call the council on 01706 926989.
The Royal British Legion has a weekly base at Number One Riverside in Rochdale. Every Thursday from 10am to 1pm each Thursday their Advice and Information Officers provide face to face advice and support to serving personnel, veterans and their families. The legion can also help them access other welfare services, financial support, property matters, education, retraining, bereavement counselling and membership enquiries.
Topics
- Public sector
Categories
- rochdale council
- rochdale
- pennines
- middleton
- heywood
- remembrance services
- remembrance day
- armistice day
- british legion
- poppy appeal
Regions
- Greater Manchester
Information for editors
On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, the First World War ended and people all over the world observed a two-minute silence to show their respect and remember the dead.
Remembrance Sunday takes place on the second Sunday of November each year to commemorate the sacrifices of members of the armed forces and of civilians in times of war, specifically since the First World War.
Armistice Day, also known as Poppy Day or Remembrance Day, is observed by a two minute silence on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month to commemorate the armistice signed in France in 1918 between the allies and Germany. Although two minutes of silence are observed on 11 November itself, the main observance is Remembrance Sunday. Traditionally, poppies are worn and wreaths of poppies are laid on war memorials.
The poppy, which grew in the battlefields of France following World War I, has become a symbol of remembrance and today people wear poppies around Remembrance Sunday as a sign of respect. The poppy emblem was chosen for Remembrance Day because of the poppies that eventually bloomed across some of the worst battlefields of World War I. The money raised by the sale of these is used to support British servicemen and women. On the day itself, Services of Remembrance are held and poppy wreaths are laid at war memorials around the country. The national service is attended by the Queen, MPs and former prime ministers, along with representatives from the armed forces, the merchant air and navy, and fishing fleets.
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