HEXHAM Town Council has released details of its plans to mark Remembrance Sunday after a scaled-down programme in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The town’s commemorations have become well known for their high level of attendance and poignance and this year, the council says, will be no different with the customary march and wreath-laying.

However, in order to make the event even more inclusive, this year, Veterans for Peace will lay a white poppy wreath during the honour guard while a purple wreath will also be laid in memory of animals killed in service.

Members of other faiths, including the Islamic and Jewish communities, have been invited, alongside the Quakers and Humanists, with the objective of opening up the commemorations to as wide a cross-section of the community as possible.

2021 also marks the centenary of the Royal British Legion, as well as that of St Wilfrid’s former War Memorial Hospital, on Eastgate, and the war memorial itself. Both were officially opened by Prince Henry in September 1921. 

The programme will start at 10:15 with Hexham Brass Band playing before the parade leaves Argyle Terrace 15 minutes later.

After progressing down Priestpopple, Fore Street and the Market Place, the march will be joined by voluntary organisations.

The Mayor, Derek Kennedy, will give an address in Hexham Park at 10:50 before the Service of Remembrance, Last Post, gun salute and minute’s silence. This will be followed by the reveille, the Abbey Choir, Northumbrian piper and wreath-laying.

The service will conclude at around 11:30 with the Lord’s Prayer and National Anthem.

Lee Williscroft-Ferris, councillor for Priestpopple and chair of the Remembrance Day sub-committee said, “I am delighted to unveil the plans for this year's remembrance events.

"I know how important this is to people in Hexham and how much they missed a formal commemoration in 2020. However, this year, we are really pleased to extend an invitation to other groups, all of which have a stake in remembering the sacrifices made for our freedoms.

"Furthermore, the involvement of Veterans for Peace and the laying of a wreath in memory of animals killed in service only serves to broaden Hexham’s vision of remembrance even further.”