Grey skies and rain fail to deter large crowd at annual Service of Remembrance

VIDEO: DESPITE grey skies and rain a large crowd gathered for the annual Service of Remembrance at Warrington Cenotaph.

Members of the public turned out in large numbers to pay their respects at the town centre cenotaph on Bridge Foot following a parade through town from Warrington Town Hall.

The annual event commemorates the sacrifice and suffering of war and to pray for the peace of the world.
As the crowds assembled and the town’s armed services paraded to the cenotaph on Bridge Foot, the pipes played ‘Flowers of the Forest’.

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At one minute to eleven, Lt. Col. Les Taylor-Duff said:

“They shall grow not old,
as we are left grow old;
age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun
and in the morning,
we will remember them.

This was followed by the Last Post and The Silence, followed by prayers from church leaders with music provided by the Salvation Army.
There was a scripture reading from Canon Christopher Cunningham, Senior Roman Catholic Priest in Warrington, followed by prayers led by Rev Robert Icke, Parish of St James and St Hilda’s Latchford, followed by Afthkar Quayyum on behalf of Warrington Council of Faiths.
A poem, “High Flight” was read by Scout Max Beacroft.
The Act of Commitment was led by Canon June Steventon, Rector fo Warrington, who also gave the blessing which the National Anthem followed.

Following the service, Lt. Col. Taylor-Duff, introduced the Mayor of Warrington Cllr. Steve Wright, to veterans and their families.
Organised by the Royal British Legion and Warrington Borough Council, the event included members of the Armed Forces, former Service Personnel and their families, Cadets, Cheshire Police, Cheshire Fire & Rescue and Ambulance Service, Scouts and Guides, Warrington and Stockton Heath fire cadets, as well as representatives from a variety of organisations in Warrington together with the Civic Party led by the Mayor.

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