Residents turn out in force for Remembrance Sunday Parade and Service in St Albans
Hundreds of people attended a moving Remembrance Sunday Parade and Service in St Albans City Centre.
The respectful crowd was ten deep in places as people gathered around the City’s War Memorial to pay tribute to members of Britain’s armed forces who lost their lives in two World Wars and other conflicts.
Mayor of St Albans City and District, Councillor Teresa Heritage, led the annual event on Sunday 9 November and laid a commemorative wreath.
She was joined by leaders of the major faiths, Honorary Aldermen and Councillors from County, District, Town and Parish Councils.
A parade which walked along St Peter’s Street included representatives of the Royal British Legion; air, sea and army cadets; the Guiding and Scout movements; the police and other uniformed services.
The Remembrance Sunday Service was conducted by the Revd Mark Dearnley of St Peter’s Church.
A bugler played the last post which was followed by a two-minute silence at 11am.
Rabbi Daniel Sturgess, of St Albans United Synagogue, read from the Hebrew Scriptures and Mr Akhtar Zaman, President of the St Albans Islamic Centre, read from the Holy Quran.
Revd Brendan Day, of the St Alban and St Stephen Catholic Church. read from the Christian New Testament. Syeda M Rahim, Jenny Taylor and Ann Scorer from the St Albans Women's Interfaith group read a poem.
Wreath laying was led by Mr Zaman, in his role as Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, followed by the Mayor, Daisy Cooper, MP for St Albans, and representatives of Herts Fire and Rescue, Police and Ambulance Services as well as other groups.
After the National Anthem was sung, there was a procession to a stand where the Mayor took the salute.
The Mayor said:
This was an occasion when our whole community, people of all ages and faiths, came together to pay their respects to our war dead.
I was deeply impressed by the large number of people who gathered around the War Memorial as well as the turnout from organisations ranging from the armed forces to our ambulance service and the guiding and scout movements.
We all recognise the huge debt we owe to the people who defend our country and the freedoms we enjoy. We must always remember those who lost their lives in doing so.
I also urge people to give generously to this year’s Poppy Appeal to help the Royal British Legion carry out the welfare work it does for our Armed Forces families.
Picture: top, the Mayor, Cllr Teresa Heritage lays a wreath at the War Memorial; below, scenes from the Remembrance Sunday Service and Parade in St Albans.
Media contact: John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer, St Albans City and District Council: 01727-919533; john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk.