Dorset to fall silent for Armistice Day

Remembrance Services will be held across Dorset this morning, with a 2 minute silence at 11am

Author: George SharpePublished 11th Nov 2021

Weymouth's Jubilee Clock is lighting up red from today to mark Remembrance Sunday.

The Mayor and members of the Royal British Legion will observe a two minute silence at Weymouth's Cenotaph this morning on Armistice Day.

Dorset Council will also be holding a service at County Hall in Dorchester that will be live-streamed.

Remembrance Sunday

A traditional Remembrance Day service will take place at the Cenotaph on the Esplanade at 10.50am, hosted by the Mayor of Weymouth, Cllr Colin Huckle. A service will be conducted by the Mayor’s Chaplin, Deacon Rev’d Geoffrey Carey.

Road closures will be in place along the Esplanade between William Street and King Street between 10am and 12pm.

Closure of The Esplanade between King Street and King Statue will also be in place between 12pm and 12.30pm. Diversions will be in operation until the services and parade have ended.

Following this service, the Mayor will lay a wreath on behalf of the town’s residents at the Cenotaph. Military representatives, local associations and organisations will then also lay wreaths.

A cannon will be fired from the beach by the Nothe Fort Volunteer Artillery to signal the two-minute silence at 11am, with the Weymouth Salvation Army bugler performing the Last Post and Reveille.

Standards, veterans, cadets and youth organisations will then parade south along the seafront, taking the salute. The parade will then make its way to the American Memorialwhere a short wreath laying service takes place.

The Mayor of Weymouth, Cllr Colin Huckle, said: “As Mayor, it is a real privilege to be involved in the town’s Remembrance events which recognise the incredibly brave people who have fought in conflicts all over the world. These individual sacrifices must never be forgotten. This is especially poignant given Weymouth’s history in working closely with its Armed Forces community.

Following the service and parade, an Armed Forces Covenant is due to be signed on behalf of the Weymouth Town Council. A signing ceremony will take place at 12.30pm.

Weymouth Town Council’s Armed Forces Champion, Cllr Christine James, said: “It gives me great pride to have the opportunity to represent Weymouth and join Commander Steve White in officially signing the Armed Forces Covenant on Remembrance Sunday.

“By having the covenant, Weymouth Town Council pledges its commitment to those who proudly protect our nation, doing so with honour and courage. We recognise the value our Armed Forces make not only to our country, but to our communities in Weymouth.”

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