From memorial concerts and wreath laying, to living history and heritage displays, a range of events will be taking place across the borough to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War.
From memorial concerts and wreath laying, to living history and heritage displays, a wide range of events will be taking place across the borough to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War.
Traditional Remembrance Sunday services and parades will be held on November 11 in Astley Bridge; Blackrod; Bromley Cross; Farnworth; Horwich; Kearsley; Little Lever, and Westhoughton, alongside the commemorations in Bolton town centre.
There will also be a series of events both before and after November 11, as communities across Bolton take the time to reflect and pay their respects to the fallen.
Among the highlights will be the Mayor of Bolton’s charity remembrance concert at the Albert Halls on Saturday, November 10 at 7.15pm.
The evening will be led by Bolton’s own Lancashire Artillery (Volunteers) Band and tickets, priced at £6.50, are available from the Albert Halls website.
The Mayor of Bolton, Cllr Elaine Sherrington, said: “Every year, we commemorate Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday as a show of respect to Bolton’s war heroes.
“This year’s proceedings will be especially poignant as we mark the centenary of the end of the First World War and remember all of those who lost their lives in that conflict.
“It is gratifying to see so many events scheduled to take place this year and to see so much effort going into preserving the legacy of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.”
A full list of remembrance events can be found here.
Details of Remembrance Sunday services and parades:
Astley Bridge:
- A march through Astley Bridge will set off from the Legion Hall on Belmont Road at 9.15am, led by the Wingates Band. The parade will continue down Bar Lane and Blackburn Road to St Paul’s Church for 10.30am where the service will take place. Services will also take place at 10.30am at Bank Top Church, the Baptist Church, Holy Infant and St Anthony, and the Gospel Hall.
Bolton:
- The Mayor of Bolton will join war veterans and members of the public on Victoria Square at 10.45am. The service will include a two minute silence, which will be marked by loud gun fire. At the end of the service, members of the public will be invited to take part in a guided “walk past” of the war memorial. The public are again invited to meet in Victoria Square at 6.30pm to witness the lighting of the Remembrance Beacon at 7pm.
Blackrod:
- The Blackrod Town Council remembrance service will be held at 10.30am. The day will include the firing of the maroons, a service at the cenotaph and a parade through the village to the service being held in St Katharine’s Church. Children’s choirs from the village primary schools will also be participating in the service.
Bromley Cross:
- The parade will set off from outside the health centre in Darwen Road at 9.15am. It will proceed to Walmsley Parish Church where a service will be held. People will then gather at the cenotaph ahead of the two minute silence at 11am.
Farnworth:
- People will gather outside Home Bargains on Market Street before the start of the parade at 10.30am, which will be led by Farnworth and Walkden Brass Band. The parade will march down Market Street towards Farnworth Park. A service of Remembrance will take place at Farnworth War Memorial, including two minutes silence at 11.00am. The parade will then return up Market Street, ending at the Home Bargains store. Afterwards, attendees are welcome at the D Havilland Club on Gladstone Road for live music and food.
Horwich:
- The Town Mayor will lay a wreath at the Locomotive Estate War Memorial at 11am before the parade begins. The parade will leave promptly at 11.40am from outside the RMI Club on Ramsbottom Road. It will proceed along Victoria Road, Church Street and Lee Lane, then on to Lever Park Avenue for the service at the Garden of Remembrance at 12.15pm, returning via Chorley New Road to Horwich RMI for dismissal.
Kearsley:
- People are invited to meet at the Kearsley Cricket Club on Springfield Road. Farnworth and Walkden Brass Band will lead the parade to the Kearsley Cenotaph on Manchester Road at 9.15am. There will be a two-minute silence and prayers at the Cenotaph before the Swaminarayan Gadi Pipe Band leads the parade to St John Fisher where a short service will be held.
Little Lever:
- People are asked to gather in the car park opposite Mytham Primary School at 10.30am. A band will lead the parade along the route before a service outside Coronation Square.
Westhoughton:
- Assemble outside St Bartholomew’s Primary School at 9.20am, departing at 9.40am for the service at St Bartholomew’s Church. Depart to the war memorial at 10.40am where Westhoughton High School pupils will read out the names of the servicemen from the Westhoughton area who lost their lives in the First World War. People will be invited to lay single flowers, or a spray of flowers, on the memorial after the service has finished and the parade has departed.