Remembrance Day tributes
The lighting of a beacon as darkness fell marked the end of a day of moving ceremonies in St Albans to mark Remembrance Day.
A lone piper stationed outside St Albans Cathedral played the Battle’s O’er, a traditional Scottish lament, at 6am as dawn broke.
He was one of 1,000 pipers who played the haunting tune at historic locations across the country on Sunday 11 November
At 11am, the Mayor of St Albans, Councillor Rosemary Farmer, who attended the piping, led a two-minute silence at the City’s war memorial beside St Peter’s Church.
As part of the commemorations, the Cathedral and St Albans Museum + Gallery were illuminated in poppy red during the evening.
‘There But Not There’ Tommy silhouettes, representing the fallen, were on display at the two locations as well as at the memorial.
This year’s Remembrance Sunday coincided with the 100th anniversary of the end of the Great War.
Hundreds of people lined the pavements to watch and support the annual parade and service that started in St Peter’s Street at 6.30pm.
Representatives from the Royal British Legion, Air, Sea and Army Cadets, HMS Wildfire, the Guiding and Scout movements as well as the police all took part in the march.
After the parade came to a halt by the memorial, a multi-faith service started with County, District, Town and Parish Councillors in attendance along with religious leaders.
St Peter’s Church Choir led the singing and pupils from Heathlands School for deaf children signed I Vow To Thee My Country.
The Mayor, dressed in her official robes and accompanied by her Macebearer, then set alight a beacon at 7pm – one of 1,000s that lit up the skies across the country – as a further two-minute silence was held. A beacon was also lit at Highfield Park.
Afterwards, the Mayor said:
This was an especially poignant Remembrance Day as it took place on the centenary of the armistice that ended the First World War.
I was very proud that once again the whole of our community came together to pay their respects to those who lost their lives while serving their country.
I was particularly struck by the huge number of people who found the time and made the effort to turn out for the parade and multi-faith service. It was a magnificent show of support for our armed forces.
Contact for the Mayor’s office:
Alison Orde, the Mayor’s Civic Officer
Tel: 01727 819544
Email: mayoralty@stalbans.gov.uk
Media contact:
John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer, St Albans City and District Council
01727 296130, john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk