The Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Al Garthwaite, extends a warm invitation to all communities in Leeds to join her at Victoria Gardens on Sunday, 12th November, as she leads the city’s Act of Remembrance.
Originally established to honour those who lost their lives in the First World War, the Remembrance Sunday service is observed annually on the second Sunday in November (the nearest Sunday to Armistice Day on the 11th of November).
Today, the service pays tribute to the contributions of British and Commonwealth military and civilian personnel from both world wars, as well as all conflicts since 1945. This year’s event also marks the 70th anniversary of the armistice that concluded the Korean War in 1953.
The Act of Remembrance in Leeds will take place on Sunday, 12th November. At 10:50, a procession will depart from Leeds Civic Hall, and by tradition, will follow a parade of ex-servicemen and women, veterans’ organizations, and currently serving military personnel, who will lead the march to the war memorial from Rossington Street at 10:30.
Joining the Lord Mayor in the procession will be the Vice Lord-Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, Helen Thomson, Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Deputy Leader of Leeds City Council, and the Leeds Children’s Mayor, 10-year-old Mohammed Hussein.
A multi-faith service at the war memorial will be conducted by the Bishop of Kirkstall, the Right Rev Arun Arora, and will be displayed on two large screens to enable members of the public not close to observe the proceedings.
At 11am, attendees will join the rest of the nation in observing a two-minute silence, preceded by a bugler playing the Last Post.
Following the service, the Lord Mayor and civic representatives will proceed to Millennium Square, where a salute and march past will occur.
The Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Al Garthwaite, said; “At a time when the world is blighted by so much conflict, it is more important than ever to come together as one community, to honour and remember those who laid down their lives for the freedoms we enjoy today, and to commemorate the sacrifices and celebrate the achievements of our armed forces personnel, past and present.
“Leeds has such a proud military history and as someone from a military family, it fills me with great pride to be laying a wreath on behalf of the city as part of Remembrance Sunday. I hope that as many people as possible can join me for a service that is always moving and tremendously poignant.”
