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Issue:-  14 November 2014

Remembrance Events on Merseyside
Photographs by Patrick Trollope.

ON Sunday, 9 November 2014, the UK held remembrance services in most major cities, towns and villages, remembering those who have given their lives in the services, in wars and conflicts. This year's was extremely poignant as it is the end to the Afghanistan deployment and also marks the 70th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings. Most notably though 2014 is a 100 years on from the start of the 1st World War. All those and other conflicts and wars were commemorated with services and also, in some areas parades. In Southport, a short parade took place at the Cenotaph, both before and after the marking of the 2 minutes silence and short service and wreath-laying ceremony. "It was fantastic to see the town come to a standstill at 11am. We had so many people attending, and yes, the better weather would have helped, but I think it also shows the public’s feelings about our military and civilian services now. It was also fantastic to see how many young people attended, not just in the official parties, but also in the crowds. It often gets over looked what it really means, but remembrance events like this show the human cost of conflict and as well as showing the respect for those serve to keep us free and safe. We need to keep reminding all generations the sacrifices other generations have given, and to show just how fragile the world can be, in the hopes it will one day stop." a member of the Southport British legion said afterwards. In Liverpool, the services were exceptionally big, with many more than normal attending. We hope to have some photos in next week’s issue for you, and apologise for the delay. In Formby sadly, the weather changed for their parade in the afternoon, to Holy Trinity Church, for the Service of Remembrance and the parade back to the Royal British Legion in the evening. One of the interesting things about that parade though was the poignant backdrop of full double rainbows both going and returning, above the marching procession. On the 11 November, the true Remembrance Day, known official Armistice Day was observed. Once again, most events, despite its being a working day, attendance was high. Also most workplaces and even the radio stations kept the 2 minutes silence. This was so noticeable in Formby, that you could hear on the River Mersey the ships in the docks and on the river, sounding hooters and horns to mark the start and the end of the silence. The village itself came to a grinding halt and people just stopped in their tracks, as the 2 minutes were marked. Then after the service at the cenotaph a small service was held at the graves of Polish Airmen who are buried at Our Lady of Compassion Churchyard. The rain by then had started again, but the short spell of drizzle added a strangely sombre feel to the event, which was extremely fitting. All the services and parades, apart from Liverpool's, are in this week’s edition as videos and also still coverage. If you have any views or feelings about them, please email us to:- news24@southportreporter.com and let us know what you think of these events. To see the rest of the images and also the video footage, please click on here now!

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