Council supports district’s period of Remembrance

The Square and The Symington Building in Market Harborough is illuminated red in support of the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal 2024.

A total of 115 Union Flags have been installed above Market Harborough shops in and around the High Street and a Union Flag will fly from the flagpole on The Symington Building on Remembrance Sunday (10 November) and Armistice Day (11 November). The flag will temporarily be lowered for the two-minute silence on Armistice Day.

The war memorial on The Square has also been cleaned and restored in advance of the commemorations.

Cllr Jo Asher, Armed Forces Champion for Harborough District Council, said: “Making these tributes is the least we can do as a council to honour our war heroes. We are indebted to our Armed Forces, both past and present, and we must never lose sight of the sacrifices they have made for the freedoms we enjoy in our everyday lives.”

A number of ceremonial events are being held across Harborough district. Details of some parades and church services are below.

In Market Harborough, on Remembrance Sunday (10 November), a Service of Remembrance will be held at 10am in St Dionysius Church. The Deputy Lieutenant of Leicestershire, the Royal British Legion, and the Chairman, Leader, Armed Forces Champion and Chief Executive of Harborough District Council will attend.

The service will be followed, at approximately 10.40am, by a parade along the High Street to the war memorial where the Act of Remembrance and two-minute silence will take place at 11am. The parade will include a marching band, local cadet units, Scouts, Guides, Brownies and Cubs, and a contingent of Armed Forces veterans from across the local area.

Temporary road closures will be in place from 9.15-9.35am and 10.50am from Coventry Road (eastbound at the entrance to the Commons Car Park), and 10.40am to approximately 11.10am from The Square and High Street (northbound traffic lights from The Square and High Street junction), Church Square from St Mary’s Road (southbound traffic lights onto Northampton Road) and Northampton Road (westbound onto St Mary’s Road, junction onto The Square).

On Armistice Day (11 November), at 10.45am, there will be a Service of Remembrance at the war memorial, to mark the moment when the Armistice was declared in 1918. This service, which will be conducted by the Chairman of the Market Harborough Branch of the Royal British Legion Stewart Harrison, and the Reverend Phil Bryson, will include a two-minute silence at 11am beginning and ending with maroons.

Elsewhere, Lutterworth is hosting its own Remembrance Sunday Parade and Service. The parade will form at the Wycliffe Rooms at 10.30am, arriving at the Memorial Gardens at approximately 10.45am for the service.

A service of Remembrance and parade will take place in Broughton Astley on Remembrance Sunday. The parade will lead from Thomas Estley Community College at 10.40am with the Service of Remembrance taking place at the war memorial at 10.55am followed by The Last Post. A two-minute silence will be observed at 11am and laying of wreaths.

Great Glen is having a special open chapel event to mark Remembrance Sunday. The event, which offers an opportunity to spend time in the chapel for a quiet moment of reflection, will take place between 10.30am and 12pm with a two-minute silence being observed at 11am.

Lubenham’s Act of Remembrance is taking place at the war memorial at 3pm on Remembrance Sunday.