We will remember them: Borough comes together for Remembrance Day services

Residents across the borough will have the chance to pay their respects to those who have made sacrifices in defence of the country at Remembrance Day services.

Commemorations will be held on Sunday 13 November, with a number of services and parades taking place. Representatives from the Navy, Army and Royal Air Force will join veterans and civic dignitaries for parades in Rochdale, Heywood, Littleborough, Middleton, Norden, Milnrow, and Wardle.

Members of the public are invited to attend to show their gratitude to servicemen and women past and present.

The Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Ali Ahmed, said: “Remembrance Sunday is always a moving and reflective day as we come together once again, united as one, to pay tribute to our Armed Forces and honour the service of thousands of men and women from across the borough. Without the selfless dedication and sacrifices of our Armed Forces, the freedoms, liberty and values we cherish so much, would have been lost. We never forget.”

Councillor Janet Emsley, cabinet member for the Armed Forces, said: “As always it will be a moving occasion, as we gather across the borough to pay our respects to those who have served our country and protected our freedoms and liberty. I am proud of our ongoing work to support everyone in our Armed Forces community and Remembrance Sunday is about people of all ages coming together at local memorials to pause, remember and reflect.”

She added: “This year’s services will have had an added poignancy following the recent death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Her Majesty always stood side by side with our Armed Forces community and she will be in everyone’s thoughts when we come together on 13 November. In our remembrance we honour the fallen, people of all faiths and no faith, from all over the world. Side by side they fought together, they fell together and together they defended the freedom we all enjoy today. We are united in our remembrance. Lest we forget.”

From now until Sunday 13 November the Royal British Legion is holding its annual poppy appeal, which raises money to support British servicemen and women and their families. Poppies can be bought online at www.britishlegion.org.uk, Number One Riverside, Rochdale and selected places across the borough.

Every Thursday 9am–10am the council hosts a Veterans’ Breakfast Club at Touchstones, Rochdale. All ex-military and dependents are welcome to attend.

For more details of the Remembrance Sunday services and parades visit www.rochdale.gov.uk/events

Parade details

HEYWOOD

10:15am Parade meets Tower Street, Heywood (anytime from 9.30am)
10:30am Parade sets off from Tower Street, left to St James’ Street, right onto Bridge Street, along Market Street, Market Place and right onto Hind Hill Street, left into Heywood Memorial Gardens.
10:45am Parade arrives at Hind Hill Street and the Gardens.
10:55am to 11:15am Remembrance Service at the Memorial Gardens.
11:20am Parade sets off for March Past from Hind Hill Street, via Pine Street, Hornby Street, Church Street (for salute) and march back up Market Place, Market Street, Bridge Street, St James Street.

LITTLEBOROUGH

• 10:15am Assemble at Hare Hill Park.
• 10.30am Parade leaves for Cenotaph.
• 10.55am Service Starts at Cenotaph.
• 11.35am Parade returns to Hare Hill Park following the service.

Following Littleborough's service ward councillors will go to the Shore Memorial, to lay a wreath in remembrance of employees of Shore Mills

MIDDLETON

• 10.15am Assemble facing the Harbord Harbord pub (Wetherspoon's) in Long Street.
• 10.25am Parade leaves for Middleton Remembrance Gardens following the same route.
• 10.45am Service begins.

NORDEN

• 10.45am Parades start from Norden Churches.
• 10.50am Remembrance Service at the Memorial Gardens (Junction of Woodhouse Lane and Edenfield Road).
• 11.00am Two minutes silence.
• 11.05am Laying of wreaths.
• 11.10am Parades dismiss.

MILNROW

• 10.25am Assemble at Harmony Street, Milnrow.
• 10.40am Parade leaves for Cenotaph.
• 10.55am Service at Cenotaph.
• 11.20am Parade returns to Harmony Street.

ROCHDALE

 • 10.30am Organisations assemble outside Touchstones Rochdale on the Esplanade
 • 10.45am Councillors, magistrates, officers and other civic guests assemble at  Touchstones Rochdale.           
 • 10.50am Parade leaves for the Cenotaph along the Esplanade, on to the path by the hoardings (by Rochdale Town Hall) and on to the Cenotaph
 • 10.55am Service at the Cenotaph.

After the service and march past, the parade will fall out on The Esplanade outside Touchstones Rochdale.

WARDLE

• 2.15pm Assemble at Village Square, Wardle.
• 2.30pm Parade leaves Cenotaph.
• 3.00pm Service at Cenotaph.
• 3.30pm Parade returns to village square.

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.