Rotherham will stop to remember its fallen next weekend for Remembrance Sunday.
Civic leaders and veterans will gather on Sunday 10 November for the annual Parade and Service of Remembrance at Rotherham Minster, followed by the Act of Remembrance, wreath laying and national two minutes silence at the Clifton Park Cenotaph.
Led by the South Yorkshire Police Band, the parade will initially leave Effingham Street at 9.15am and head for Rotherham Minster. It will comprise a civic party led by the Mayor of Rotherham, Cllr Jenny Andrews.
The party will also include the Deputy Lieutenant of South Yorkshire, Mr Bob Dyson; the Deputy Mayor and Armed Forces Champion, Cllr Ian Jones; Rotherham Council Leader, Cllr Chris Read, Assistant Chief Executive; Assistant Chief Executive of Rotherham Council, Shokat Lal, and other local representatives. The parade will also include representatives of the Royal British Legion and other local armed forces organisations, cadets and uniformed services.
The service will start at 9.45am and will be conducted by the Vicar of Rotherham Minster, Reverend Phil Batchford.
Following the service, the parade will reassemble outside the Minster at approximately 10.40am and make its way to the Cenotaph in Clifton Park for the wreath-laying ceremony and national two minutes silence at 11am.
Finally, the parade will conclude with a march down Doncaster Gate, along High Street and Moorgate Street to Rotherham Town Hall, with the Mayor and the Deputy Lieutenant taking the salute.
Mayor of Rotherham, Councillor Jenny Andrews said: “Remembrance Sunday is one of the most important and poignant dates of the year, as we come together to remember and say thank you to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country and to our armed forces for their service.
“I know the contribution of our Armed Forces is very much appreciated by the people of Rotherham and I hope to see people showing their support of Remembrance events in the town centre or their local community.”
From Saturday 9 November there will be 2,500 crosses of Remembrance, placed in the memory garden behind the Cenotaph to commemorate each service member of Rotherham’s Fallen listed on the Cenotaph.
Remembrance events are due to take place in local communities across Rotherham, including:
Brinsworth: Remembrance Sunday service in The Centre, Brinsworth Lane at 10am, followed by a service, laying of wreaths and silence at the War Memorial at St George’s Churchyard, starting approximately 10.40am. Attendees invited back to The Centre for refreshments afterwards.
Thurcroft: Remembrance Sunday service at Simon & St Judes Church, starting at 10am, followed by a march to the Cenotaph at 10.50am.
Rawmarsh: Service of Remembrance starts 10.45am at the Cenotaph, Rawmarsh Hill organised by the Parish Church, St Mary, Rawmarsh with Parkgate. Wreath laying including Scouts, local uniform groups, Police, emergency services and the British Legion.
Brampton Bierlow: There will be a Service of Remembrance at Christ Church starting at 10.15am, followed by a short service at the Brampton Bierlow war memorial, Knollbeck Lane from approximately 11.30am.
Greasbrough: Remembrance Sunday service starts 10am at St Mary’s Church, followed by the Act of Remembrance at Greasbrough War Memorial from 10.45am.
On Monday 11 November (1pm), Armistice Day, the Mayor will officially unveil the Wall of the Fallen Heroes at the Centenary Market Hall - the centre piece of the Poppy Cascade display, which contains around 20,000 hand-knitted poppies.
The Wall of the Fallen Heroes is a collage of photographs, depicting some of thousands of Rotherham and South Yorkshire residents to have given their lives fighting for their country.