Wolverhampton will come together to mark Remembrance Sunday - and the 97th anniversary of the end of the First World War - next weekend.

The city's annual Observance of Remembrance will be held at the Cenotaph in St Peter's Square on Sunday (8 November, 2015).

The Band of the West Midlands Fire Service will lead a parade including detachments from ex-Service, Regular, Reserve, Cadet Units and representatives of other local uniformed organisations starting from Wulfruna Street at 10.35am.

Going via Prince's Square, the parade will travel along Lichfield Street to Queen Square, right onto Exchange Street and across Cheapside to St Peter's Square, where a Drumhead Service - the traditional form for a religious service attended by troops in the field - will begin just before 11am.

This will be followed by a second service in St Peter's Collegiate Church.

Members of the public are encouraged to attend and Mayor of Wolverhampton Councillor Ian Brookfield said: "The annual Observance of Remembrance is an opportunity for everyone in Wolverhampton to pay tribute to the men and women of our Armed Forces, past, present and future.

"This year's ceremony will be particularly poignant, as we not only mark 101 years since the start of the Great War, but also 70 years since the end of the Second World War, and I hope as many people as possible will be able to join us for this very important occasion."

Among those taking part in the parade will be veterans representatives from 1047 City of Wolverhampton Air Training Corps, 210 (Staffordshire) Battery 103 Regiment Royal Artillery, 210 Battery Association, 4th Battalion the Mercian Regiment, Boy's Brigade Wolverhampton Battalion, British and Caribbean Veterans Association, British Korean Veterans Association Wolverhampton Branch, British Red Cross Society, Fellowship of the Services, 445 (Wulfruna) Mess and the Hungarian Cultural Association of Wolverhampton.

They will be joined by the National Association of Retired Police Officers Wolverhampton Branch, National Service Royal Armoured Corps, 4/7 Royal Dragoon Guards, RAF Cosford, RAF National Service Association, Cosford Branch, RAOB GLE, Wolverhampton PG Lodge, RNLI and the Royal British Legion City of Wolverhampton Central Branch.

Also taking part will be the Royal Naval Association, St John Ambulance, Stafford's Regimental Association, Wolverhampton Branch, Staffordshire and West Midlands ACF B Company, Territorial Army Veteran, The Mercian Regiment, War Widows Association of Great Britain and Wolverhampton Sea Cadets.

Wulfruna Street will be closed from 8.30am until approximately 11am for the parade to take place. Drivers are advised there will be temporary disruption to vehicles approaching the parade route between 10.30am and approximately 10.50am.

Members of the public can also pay their respects at the Royal British Legion City of Wolverhampton Central Branch's annual service of remembrance at the Cenotaph on Wednesday 11 November, 2015. It begins at 10.45am and will be preceded by a short parade.

And the city will commemorate the Dutch soldiers stationed at Wrottesley Park during the Second World War at the annual Dutch War Graves Service of Remembrance at Jeffcock Road Cemetery on Saturday (7 November, 2015). It takes place at 10am and will be preceded by a short parade which will form up at 9.40am.

Meanwhile, Wolverhampton's annual Festival of Remembrance takes place at the Wulfrun Hall this Sunday 1 November, 2015. Tickets will be available on the door, priced £5, with free parking in the Civic Centre car park available for people attending the festival upon presentation of their ticket.

For more information about the Observance of Remembrance, please contact the Mayor's Office on 01902 554090 or email themayor@wolverhampton.gov.uk.

  • released: Thursday 29 October, 2015