#wathupondearne
Latest news in Yorkshire: November 06, 2018 12:51:51 PM
The poignant silhouettes of two 6ft Tommies, which represent 100 years
since the end of the First World War, will keep watch over this year’s
acts of Remembrance in Rotherham.
The Tommies are part of a nationwide campaign called There, But Not
There, and have been placed either side of the cannon outside Rotherham
Town Hall. The campaign, organised by the charity Remembered, will raise
money for today’s armed forces charities.
Mayor of Rotherham Alan Buckley said: “It’s wonderful to have the two
6ft Tommies placed so prominently in the town centre for this year’s
Remembrance events. They epitomise the First World War and will serve as
a very poignant reminder about the sacrifice made by so many soldiers
during the conflict.”
Cllr Buckley will lead the Remembrance parade on Sunday, November 11.
The parade will meet at Effingham Square at 9am, before the service gets
underway at 9.45am at Rotherham Minster.
Following the service, the parade will leave the Minster before heading
along High Street and up Doncaster Gate to the Cenotaph in Clifton Park
where a wreath laying ceremony will take place. There will be two
minutes’ silence at 11am.
“It will be a highlight of my time as Mayor to lead the parade and I
invite as many people as possible to join with us to remember our fallen
heroes,” added Councillor Buckley.
Councillor Ian Jones, Rotherham Council’s Armed Forces Champion, has
urged as many people as possible to make time to look at the Tommies
while they are on view outside the Town Hall. They will be on display
until Monday, November 19.
“The Rotherham Tommies ‘stand alongside’ many others across the country
and help us to remember the enormous sacrifice made by those who fought
in the First World War and who paid the ultimate price,” he said.
“It’s hoped they will help our younger generation understand why and how
888,246 British and Commonwealth service personnel lost their lives in
the Great War of 1914-1918. We’d love for as many people as possible to
get involved and even take photos and selfies with the ‘there but not
there’ soldiers to post on social media.”
Businesses in the town have been creating window displays to commemorate
the end of the war and these will line part of the parade route along
the High Street. Poppies have also been spray-painted onto the street
using temporary paints and stencils by REMA (Rotherham Ethnic Minority
Alliance).
Shokat Lal, Rotherham Council Assistant Chief Executive, said:
“Remembrance Sunday and the events surrounding it are incredibly
important and it’s wonderful that our commemorations have reached out to
the town’s business community.
“This year’s Remembrance events in Rotherham are extra special as we
remember all fallen soldiers as we mark 100 years since the end of the
First World War.”
The Rotherham Poppy Cascade is also available to view at the Centenary
Market Hall until November 17. There will also be a street party to
celebrate the end of the First World War. The party will take place in
Rotherham’s Outdoor Covered Market, on Saturday, November 10 from 11am
to 4pm, and everyone is welcome to attend.
The York and Lancaster Regimental Museum at Clifton Park Museum is
running a special exhibition called Coming Home: The End of the Great
War. The exhibition can be viewed at any time during museum opening
hours, and a number of remembrance-themed events and activities for
children and adults are also taking place, see the events web pages for
more details of these.
===================
See our yorkshire photography: