Rushden's annual Remembrance parade and service to be held at town's war memorial

The Rushden branch of the Royal British Legion is inviting all former members of the HM Forces to join them at the event on Sunday, November 13.

The parade starts in Robinson Road at 10.30am, and will be followed by the Remembrance service at Rushden war memorial at 10.50am.

Branch chairman Paul Mills, who served in the Royal Navy, said: “We are really keen to encourage people and those they know who were in the Forces, to join me and my fellow RBL branch members on parade and march with us to and from the war memorial.

“It doesn’t matter if they are not RBL branch members; they served and so they are most welcome.”

This year the service will be led by the reverend of St Mary’s Church, the Revd Natasha Brady, who will be accompanied by the church’s choir.

Music will be provided by the Rushden Town Band and Mission Band.

Principal wreath layer will be Sir John Robinson, the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Northamptonshire.

The act of remembrance, together with a parade and service, are marked by the Royal British Legion each year with a ceremony held at the town’s war memorial.

Schools are also involved with various assemblies attended by the branch’s schools liaison team and small ceremonies held, such as schoolchildren planting crosses at the Garden of Remembrance located on the grounds of the war memorial.

Public attendance on Remembrance Sunday is always huge and the support is very much appreciated by all the parade participants who age in range from six-years-old to veterans aged up to 90.

After the parade, the Athletics Club has offered to lay on sandwiches and soup for all parade participants.

And at sunset on Friday, November 18, just after 4pm there will be a short ceremony at Rushden war memorial to commemorate the last day of the Battle of the Somme, which went on for 141 days.

Members of the public are welcome to attend.