All welcome at Remembrance Sunday Parade and Service in St Albans

Everyone is welcome to attend a moving Remembrance Sunday Parade and Service in St Albans City Centre on Sunday 9 November.

The Mayor of St Albans City and District, Councillor Teresa Heritage, will lead the annual event and will be joined by leaders of the major faiths.

Residents are expected to turn out in force to pay their respects to members of Britain's armed forces who lost their lives in two World Wars and other conflicts.

Honorary Aldermen and Councillors from County, District, Town and Parish Councils will also be in attendance.

At 10.30am, the Mayor will see off a parade that will walk along St Peter's Street to the War Memorial near St Peter's Church.

It will include representatives of the Royal British Legion, Air, Sea and Army Cadets, the Guiding and Scout movements, the Police and other uniformed services.

Mayor Heritage will be accompanied by her Macebearer and both will wear their official robes.

The Remembrance Sunday Service will begin at 10.50am and be conducted by the Revd Mark Dearnley of St Peter's Church.

A bugler will play the last post which will be followed by a two-minute silence at 11am.

Rabbi Daniel Sturgess of St Albans United Synagogue will read from the Hebrew Scriptures.

A faith leader from the St Albans Islamic Centre will read from the Holy Qran and a representative of the St Alban and St Stephen Catholic Church will read from the Christian New Testament.

Syeda M Rahim, Jenny Taylor and Ann Scorer from the St Albans Women's Interfaith group will read a poem.

Wreath laying will be led by Mr Akhtar Zaman, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, followed by Mayor Heritage, Daisy Cooper, MP for St Albans, and representatives of Herts Fire and Rescue, Police and Ambulance Services and other groups.

After the National Anthem is sung, there will be a procession to a saluting stand where the Mayor will take the salute of the parade.

The Mayor said:

This is an occasion when people of all ages and from all parts of our community will join us to pay their respects to our war dead.

We will be recognising the huge debt we owe to the men and women who defended our country and the freedoms we enjoy today. We must always remember them.

She added:

I urge people to give generously to this year's Poppy Appeal to help the Royal British Legion carry out the fantastic welfare work it does for our Armed Forces families.

Some Town and Parish Councils within the District, including Harpenden Town Council, are also organising Remembrance Sunday services at their war memorials.

Photos: top, scene from last year's service; below, the Mayor, Cllr Teresa Heritage.

Media contact: John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer, St Albans City and District Council: 01727-919533; [email protected].