Town to pay its respects to fallen

ROCHDALIANS will pay their respects to those who have made sacrifices in defence of the country at next weekend’s’s Remembrance Day services.

Commemorations will be held on Remembrance Sunday, November 12, with six parades across the borough.

Representatives from the Navy, Army and Royal Air Force will join veterans and civic dignitaries for the parades, which will take place in Rochdale, Heywood, Littleborough, Middleton, Milnrow and Wardle.

A service and parade will also be held in Whitworth.

The Mayor Coun Ian Duckworth said: “I invite all members of the community to attend their local Remembrance Sunday service.

“It is important we pause and pay tribute to those who lost their lives, paying the ultimate price for our freedom. Those who fought bravely for our futures must never be forgotten.”

For more information and to download an order of service visit rochdale.gov.uk/events

And at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month (Saturday, November 11) the Mayor will lead a two-minute silence, with prayers given by The Royal British Legion Chaplain Margaret Smith, at Rochdale Cenotaph opposite the town hall.

Coun Alan McCarthy, lead member for the Armed Forces, said: “We owe our service personnel a great debt and I know residents will come out again to pay their respects to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

“This is a day when the borough joins with others across the world to pay tribute to those who died and also to their families, those who were injured and those who survived.

“By buying a poppy we pay a fitting tribute to all those brave men and women who served, and continue to serve our country.”