Remembrance Sunday was marked by church and community around the diocese yesterday, with poppy cascades, parades, and services including those led by the Bishop of Leicester and the Bishop of Loughborough.
Leicester’s Remembrance Service took place at the Victoria Park War Memorial and began with a parade from De Montfort Hall, made up of members of the Armed Forces, reservists, veterans and cadets, and led by the Seaforth Highlanders Pipes and Drums.
Bishop Saju conducted the service, with support from former BBC Radio Leicester presenter, Dave Andrews. A bugler sounded the Last Post before the firing of salutes, marking the start and end of two minutes of silence.
The Arch of Remembrance, which was built to mark those who died in World War One, and dedicated in 1925, was also looking impressive, having been renovated in time for the commemorative event.
The Portland stone had been steam-cleaned, along with repointing, regilding and restoration of the four painted stone flags carved into the archway.
Hundreds of people gathered for the service, including the granddaughters of Annie Glover and Elizabeth Butler, two women from Leicester who originally unveiled the memorial after losing seven sons between them in the war.
Bishop Saju read the following prayer, offered by the then Lord Bishop of Peterborough in 1925 when the Arch was unveiled.
O Heavenly Father,
bless we pray Thee this “Arch of Remembrance”,
which we have raised up to Thy Glory
and in grateful memory of those who gave their lives for us in the Great War.
May Thy Holy Angels guard it from all harm and dishonour,
and grant that in generations to come its witness to the sacrifice of those we have loved
may inspire like sacrifice and service for Thee and for their fellowmen,
through Jesus Christ our Lord
Amen.
Bishop Saju was interviewed afterwards by ITV news central east midlands, which was broadcast in the evening.
Eighty years since the end of the Second World War, the Remembrance Service in Loughborough took place at the Carillon Tower War Memorial in Queen's Park, and began with a parade through the town centre.
The service was led by the Revd Emily Sharman, vicar of All Saints with Holy Trinity Church, alongside Bishop Martyn, and was attended by serving members of the armed forces, veterans, police officers and dignitaries, as well as many hundreds of members of the public who had turned out in the park.
Baroness Hazel Byford DBE DL, Deputy Lieutenant to the Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire, Mike Kapur OBE, was also in attendance as representative of His Majesty King Charles III and paid tribute to our Armed Forces and thanked the residents in attendance.
A large screen next to the Carillon Tower broadcast the service to the gathered crowd, while many more joined via the Council’s livestream on YouTube and social media channels.
You can read the full story from Charnwood Borough Council here.
*Photos courtesy of Charnwood Borough Council.