Remembrance Sunday in St Albans
A moving Remembrance Day Parade and Service is to take place in St Albans on Sunday 12 November.
The Mayor of St Albans City and District Councillor Anthony Rowlands will lead the annual event and will be joined by leaders of the major faiths.
Everyone is welcome to come and pay their respects to the members of Britain’s armed forces who lost their lives in two World Wars and other conflicts.
The Mayor will lead a parade through the City Centre at 10.30am with representatives of the Royal British Legion, air, sea and army cadets, the Guiding and Scout movements, the Police and other uniformed services.
Honorary Aldermen and Councillors from County, District, Town and Parish Councils will also be in attendance.
Mayor Rowlands will be accompanied by his Macebearer and both will wear their official robes.
The procession will walk to the War Memorial near St Peter’s Church for the start of the service at 10.50am.
Faith groups will be represented by Revd Mark Dearnley of St Peter’s Church who will conduct the service. 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.
Mr Akhtar Zaman, President of the St Albans Islamic Centre, will read from the Holy Quran and Rev Michael O’Boy of St Alban and St Stephen Catholic Church will read from the Christian New Testament.
During the service, there will be prayers and the St Albans City Band will provide the music for hymns.
Wreaths will be laid by the Mayor as well as Lionel Wallace, Deputy Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, Daisy Cooper, MP for St Albans, and representatives of the Fire and Rescue, Police and Ambulance Services and other groups.
After the National Anthem is sung, the Vice Lord-Lieutenant, Mayor and Councillors will return in procession to a saluting stand where the Mayor will take the salute of the parade.
Some Town and Parish Councils within the District, including Harpenden Town Council, are also organising Remembrance Sunday services.
Cllr Rowlands said:
People of all ages and from all parts of our community will want to join us to pay their respects to those who sacrificed their lives for others.
In doing so, they will be recognising the huge debt we owe to the men and women who defended our country and our freedoms. We must always remember them.
I would also ask 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
Picture: scene from last year’s parade and service; below, Cllr Anthony Rowlands, Mayor of St Albans City and District.
Contact for the media: John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer: 01727-819533, john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk.
