A particularly poignant Remembrance Day this year will see the Mayor of St Albans join forces with veterans and others on Sunday to pay their respects to members of the armed forces who died in conflict.
2016 marks 100 years since the start of the Battle of the Somme - one of the bloodiest conflicts in the 1914-18 war - and among those who will accompany the Mayor at the Remembrance Service and Parade will be the crew of HMS St Albans, representatives from the Royal British Legion, air, sea and army cadets, the guiding and scouting movements, police and other uniformed services.
The parade begins at 10.37am outside the former BHS store in St Albans and will proceed along St Peter’s Street to the War Memorial near St Peter’s Church. The service will start at 10.50am, led by the Rev Mark Dearnley, the new vicar of St Peter’s.
Joining the parade will be honorary aldermen, councillors from county, district, town and parish councils and leaders of the main faiths. During the service prayers will be said by faith leaders including Fr Tom Hewitt from SS Alban and Stephen Roman Catholic Church and Rabbi Daniel Sturgess of St Albans United Synagogue.
Wreaths will be laid by the Deputy Lieutenant of Herts, Howard Guard, the Mayor, Cllr Frances Leonard, and others.
The Mayor said: “This year we are honoured to be joined by a contingent from the Royal Navy’s HMS St Albans for the city’s Remembrance Day Parade and Service. Please join us in remembering everyone who has lost their life or been seriously injured while serving with the armed forces.
“Together, we will pay our respects to the fallen and injured while also thinking of those who are currently serving around the world.”
Don Dell from the Royal British Legion added: “This year marks 100 years since the start of the Battle of the Somme in World War I. Remembrance Sunday is a time to remember all who suffered or died in that terrible war and in subsequent conflicts while serving in the armed forces.
“Please join us in paying your respects to each and every one of them.”
Remembrance services are also being held elsewhere in the district on Sunday. In Harpenden Town Mayor, Cllr Nicola Linacre, will be at the service at the War Memorial in Church Green which starts at 10.50am and ends at around 11.30am.
Deputy leader of Hertsmere council, Cllr John Graham and wife Barbara, will attend the 11am ceremony at Radlett War Memorial on the corner of Watling Street and Shenley Hill. Before the ceremony, they will be joining others for a service of remembrance at 9.15am at Christ Church in Watling Street.
Sandridge is holding its act of remembrance at the lychgate at St Leonard’s Church at 10.45am. It will include the reading out of the names of those from the village who died in both wars as well as the laying of wreaths. It will be followed by a service inside the church.
St Stephen parish has its remembrance service from 2.50pm at the Park Street War Memorial on the A5183.
Park Street and District Residents Association started the act of remembrance in 2000 when it was attended by around two dozen people but it has steadily grown to a congregation of over 700 which includes more than 200 children and young people..
It is now run by St Stephen parish council and over 30 organisations will be laying wreaths during the half hour service which will result in a temporary road closure.
* In addition to the Remembrance Service and Parade on Sunday, St Albans council chamber will be open from 10am until 12.30pm so people can see the World War One memorial that was relocated from the Town Hall earlier this year.
It lists the names of 635 men from St Albans who lost their lives.
* Tomorrow (11) will see a small parade through St Albans city centre, starting outside the former BHS store at about 10.50am, towards the War Memorial.
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