100 years on, town honours the fallen
RUNCORN has marked the centenary of the end of World War I as the town honoured its fallen from across the generations.
Veterans were joined by dignitaries, cadets, serving personnel as a parade began the afternoon’s commemorations on Greenway Road.
The congregation made its way to the Cenotaph where a Christian service took place including hymns, readings, wreath laying, Exhortation, Last Post and two-minute silence.
Music was provided by Frodsham Silver Band.
Among those to lay wreaths the area’s MPs Derek Twigg and Mike Amesbury, representatives of veterans groups, cadets, primary schools, other organisations and The Queen’s representative Deputy Lord Lieutenant Of Cheshire Valerie Allen MBE.
Following the service, residents were free to lay their own wreaths in memory of loved ones and to plant memorial crosses.
Work had taken place ahead of the commemorations to carry out specialist cleaning and repairs on the Cenotaph and war memorial.
The two lawns lying either side were also rededicated the previous Monday, November 5, as Gardens Of Remembrance.
Runcorn’s civic procession and Remembrance service took place in the afternoon – as opposed to 11am like many other towns to avoid a clash with the service in Widnes and allow for dignitaries and others to attend both.
A separate morning service also took place at Halton Royal British Legion in Halton Village, with the parade moving from Castle Road to the Lychgate at Halton Cemetery on Holt Lane.
Major commemorations took place across Europe over the weekend to mark 100 years since the end of the First World War and the outbreak of peace. According to the Imperial War Museum, more than 16m military personal and civilians were killed during the conflict.
More than 900,000 Armed Forces personnel from Britain and its colonies were among the dead. ●