Remember the fallen at special services

Services will be held on Sunday in St Annes, Lytham, Kirkham, Wesham and Staining and Fylde mayor Coun Peter Hardy said: “People in Fylde know of the efforts and sacrifice of members of our armed forces and they hold them in the highest respect.

“I am sure that they will turn out, as always, in good numbers.

“The people we pay our respects to have lost their lives on behalf of us all. We enjoy today’s freedoms because of them and we never forget that. Neither do we forget the losses suffered by their families.

“We have hundreds, if not thousands, of former servicemen and women in the area. The Royal British Legion’s banners will be there as always and former service-people can march behind them, whether or not they are Legion members.

“Fylde, of course, has lost many of its sons in the world wars of yesteryear.

“We have also lost some of the brave service-people at Weeton Barracks in more recent conflicts. They and their families are always in our thoughts.

“I urge people, young and old, to pay their respects on this poignant day.”

Coun Hardy will lead the procession in St Annes, starting from the pier car park at 10.30am, with the service in Ashton Gardens at 11am and he will be joined by Kirkham town mayor Coun Paul Hodgson at the Kirkham service in Memorial Park at 2pm. The procession there starts from Orders Lane at 1.30pm.

Fylde deputy mayor Coun Heather Speak will lead the civic party at the Lytham service in Market Square at 11am, with the procession starting from the Assembly Rooms at 10.45am.

Coun Linda Nulty, mayor of Medlar-with-Wesham will lead the procession around town to the Wesham service, scheduled for the war memorial at 11am, while in Staining, proceedings starts at 12.40pm with the civic party led by Coun Keith Shuck, chairman of Staining Parish Council.

Civic parties will include councillors, police, the Royal British Legion, former 
servicemen and women, the Royal Air Force Association, the Army Cadets, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, the Sea Cadet Corps, the Air Training Corps, Scouts and Guides, the Armed Forces, officiating clergy, Justices of the Peace, Fire Service, and the Women’s Royal Voluntary Service.

Armistice Day itself is next Wednesday, November 11, when maroons – a type of rocket – will be ignited in brief ceremonies attended by Coun Hardy at Ashton Gardens, St Annes, Coun Speak at Charlie’s Mast on Lytham Green and Coun Keith Beckett at William Sagar Playing Fields, Kirkham, all at 11am.