Remembrance Day – honouring those who sacrificed life
THOSE who have sacrificed their lives in wartime service of this country will be in the minds of many on Sunday (November 8) when Sussex joins the nation in marking Remembrance Day.
In Eastbourne the Mayor and Mayoress, Greg and Clare Szanto, will lead a parade from the RAFA Club in Wish Road, marching off at 10.40am to the town's War Memorial .
Accompanied by honorary aldermen, freemen, past mayors and councillors, they will observe the traditional two minutes' silence at 11am.
At 3pm Cllr Szanto will attend a Remembrance Service at the Ruthless Memorial at Butts Brow and lay a wreath in memory of the crew of an American B24 Liberator bomber, Ruth-Less, who died when their aircraft crashed into the hillside in February 1944.
And in the evening, the mayor will attend a Festival of Remembrance at the Congress Theatre, Eastbourne.
It starts at 7.30pm and will include contributions from Eastbourne Silver Band, The Rattonians, Eastbourne Sea and Marine Cadets, and members of the Eastbourne Scottish Pipe Band.
This year the festival celebrates the centenary of the Fleet Air Arm, the 65th anniversary of the Normandy Landings and the 60th anniversary of the Yangtze River incident.
On Wednesday, November 11 – the actual date on which the Great War ended in 1918 – the mayor will join a two minutes' silence at Eastbourne's Arndale Centre, starting at 11am.
The mayor said that in addition to honouring the dead, it was important to remember the many survivors of war who have suffered horrific injuries while fighting for their country.
And he added, "This year is especially poignant in Eastbourne as we remember Henry Allingham, our local last survivor of the First World War who died recently."
The mayor has also called on people to spare a thought for those who served in the local Women's Land Army, and for animals killed in conflict.
The role of animals in wartime is being increasingly recognised, and purple poppies are now being sold through Animal Aid which can be worn alongside the traditional red poppy to signify this.
Bill Palethorpe, of South Street, Eastbourne, and colleagues plan to lay a wreath of purple poppies during Sunday's ceremony at the war memorial for animals' lost lives.
Mr Palethorpe said, "We are very pleased that we have been authorised to take part in the formal wreath laying ceremony on November 8 and in subsequent years."
To help boost sales of Remembrance Day poppies in aid of the Royal British Legion, the mayor aims to visit poppy sellers around the town on Saturday, November 7, starting at 11am.
At Hampden Park on Wednesday (November 11), those wishing to attend the 11am act of remembrance at the war memorial are asked to be there by 10.45am at the latest.
Father Robin Tree, of St Mary's, will conduct the service and Cllr Mike Thompson will read a prayer.
The exhortation is to be made by Chris Rollison MBE, chairman of the Eastbourne Royal Sussex Association, and local army cadets will be on parade.
Many other communities in the Eastbourne area will be holding their own Remembrance Day parades, services and events.
On Sunday, they include: Chiddingly - 11am at St James' Church, Horam, and 6.30pm at Laughton Church; Hailsham - 3pm Primrose Hall; Jevington - 10.45am at St Andrew's Church; Seaford - 11am at town war memorial, followed by 11.20am service at St Leonard's Church.
Willingdon's remembrance service will be at 10.45am on Sunday, November 8 at St Mary's Church.
NOTE: The dates for the Hampden Park and Willingdon services were incorrect when published in the Eastbourne Herald on Friday. This version has been amended to include the correct dates. We apologise for the errors.
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Weather for St Leonards-on-Sea
Saturday 11 February 2012
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Temperature: -6 C to 1 C
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