A number of events are taking place in Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge today (Sunday) to mark the centenary of the ending of the First World War.
Remembrance Sunday at St Andrew’s Church in Burnham-On-Sea will see a specially-written Requiem service taking place to honour the 78 servicemen from Burnham who lost their lives in the Great War.
The service will be led by preacher Rev’d Richard Sigrist who served as a Naval chaplain during the Falklands War. The service starts at 9.45am and will end in time for the congregation to join the town’s Remembrance Day commemoration at the hospital.
Burnham’s Remembrance Sunday Parade will start from the B&M car park at 10.20am. Those taking part will march along the High Street to the town’s War Memorial in Love Lane, where the ceremony will be held at 11am.
“A record turnout of local service groups, cadet groups, community organisations, emergency services and veterans will be taking part,” said Ruth Crosby from Burnham’s Royal British Legion branch.
The St Andrew’s Church bells will peal out at 12.30pm as part of a national marking of the Armistice by over 1,100 churches across the country – just as they did 100 years ago previously at the same time.
A 3pm remembrance service will also be held at St John’s Church in Highbridge. The annual Highbridge silent parade leaves the Bank Street car park at 2.30pm.
The service will be followed by a parade to the Highbridge war memorial for a Minute’s Silence and wreath laying, attended by MP James Heappey and other dignitaries.
