READING Borough Council has announced that the it will hold two events marking Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday.
Residents are invited to pay their respects to those who gave their lives defending the UK in its armed forces.
The mayor of Reading, Cllr Tony Page, will lead a service on Saturday, November 12, to mark Armistice Day, followed by a two-minute silence at the Forbury Gardens War memorial.
The main Remembrance event will take place on Sunday, November 12, with a service at Reading Minster which will feature readings from Mr Andrew Try, Lord Lieutenant of the Royal County of Berkshire, Captain Ian Page, Second in Command HQ Company, 7th Battalion, the RIFLES, and Cllr Tony Page.
This will be followed by a march through the town centre, led by The Waterloo Band and Bugles of the 7 Rifles.
It will proceed from Reading Minster at 10.15am and terminate at Forbury Gardens, where wreaths will be laid and a two-minute silence at 11am.
Mayor of Reading, Cllr Tony Page, said: “I invite the residents of Reading, and indeed anybody associated with our town, to join us in remembering the sacrifices made by those members of our armed forces and those who continue to risk their lives today.
“It will be an honour to lead the two-minute silences at the Forbury War Memorial and I would encourage as many people as possible to join me on Saturday 11 November, or join the march through the town centre on Remembrance Sunday, 12 November, which will leave Reading Minster at 10.15am.”
Cllr Jason Brock, Reading Borough Council Leader, said: “Both of these remembrance ceremonies, taking place in Reading on Armistice Day and on Remembrance Sunday, offer residents the opportunity to join the rest of our nation in paying tribute to the courage shown by those brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country and in securing our freedom.
“Reading will always remember the sacrifices made by those who serve – past and present.”
Major Robert Whittle, OC HQ (Berkshire) Company, 7th Battalion, The RIFLES said:
“The 7th Battalion The RIFLES is both honoured and proud to again be working alongside and supporting Reading Borough Council, the people of Berkshire, and the wider community, during this year’s season of Remembrance.
“We are proud to honour our community’s unbreakable links to the Battalion, our Regiment and its antecedents. We continue to recruit from, work for, and mark major events, such as our national remembrance, with the population and its civic representatives.”
The Armistice Day event takes place at the Forbury Gardens memorial from 11am on Saturday, November 11.
The Remembrance Day Service takes place from 9.45am on Sunday, November 12, at Reading Minster.
Both services are free to attend and open to members of the public.
