08 Nov 2023
Remembrance Day parades and services are taking place across the district on Sunday.
Mayor Cllr Anthony Rowlands will lead the St Albans event alongside leaders of the major faiths.
A parade through the city centre will take place 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.
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, MP Daisy Cooper, 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.
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.”
London Colney’s annual Remembrance Sunday Parade and service of Remembrance takes place at Caledon Community Centre, Caledon Road at 10.45am. Residents are invited to attend the War Memorial for a service of Remembrance from 10.55am.
In Wheathampstead, the procession will from Church Street (by the entrance to Bury Green) at 10.45am, thereafter gathering at the War Memorial outside St Helen’s church in time for a two minute silence at 11am.
The Harpenden Remembrance Day parade will form up in Rothamsted Park, Leyton Road, from 10.15am and will move off at 10.35am to parade to the War Memorial, Church Green, for a Service of Remembrance at 10.50am.
