Remembrance Day 2018: First World War Centenary events taking place in your area
Services marking the centenary of the end of the First World War will be held all across Staffordshire and the Black Country.
The special ceremonies will form the climax of four years of commemorations honouring the sacrifice of millions of servicemen and women.
This year, Remembrance Sunday falls fortuitously on the actual anniversary of the Armistice on November 11, and sees a packed calendar of events for those looking to attend a memorial service and other commemorative events.
In addition to the parades and services, more than 2,000 pipers across the UK and around the world will play Battle's O'er at 6am on Sunday to mark the time the Armistice was signed in 1918.
Pipers will be playing in Wolverhampton, Stafford and several locations in Birmingham
And at 7pm, more than 1,000 Beacons of Light will be lit across the UK symbolising an end to the darkness of war and a return to the light of peace. Locations include Rugeley, Norton Canes and the Rowley Hills.
Rolling road closures will be in operation during the morning to allow veterans and serving military personnel to march to cenotaphs in towns, cities and village greens.
Have we missed out an event by you? email webdesk@expressandstar.co.uk.
Wolverhampton area:
Friday
10.30am -12pm: A remembrance service for children and young people who will be invited to parade with veterans starting at 10.30am from Dudley Street through Queens Square to the Cenotaph at St Peter’s Church
Saturday
10am: The annual Dutch War Graves Service of Remembrance will be held at Jeffcock Road Cemetery, preceded by a short parade from 9.40am.
7.30pm: Central Youth Theatre and Wolverhampton Orpheus male Choir present Everyone Sang, a performance to commemorate the 100th anniversary of WW1 armistice at St John’s Church, St John’s Square
Sunday
6am: Lone piper Vicki Kennerley, from the Wolverhampton Pipe Band, will perform Battle's O'er outside St Peter's Church. Vicki will be one of more than 2,000 pipers performing the traditional post-battle song simultaneously.
11am: A traditional drumhead service at the Cenotaph in St Peter’s Square will begin just before 11am, followed by a second service in St Peter’s Collegiate Church
10.45am: A service of remembrance at the War Memorial in the churchyard of St Michael and All Angels, Lower Green, Tettenhall
9.30am: Memorial service at Holy Trinity Church, Farrington Road, Ettingshall Park, followed by a parade service for the Lanesfield British Legion at 11am. Poppy display at the church open until 5pm
10am: Muster at The Square, Church Street, Bilston; parade leaving at 10.30am for the War Memorial in Oxford Street, arriving at 10.40 ahead of remembrance service
10.30am: Parade in Bradley leaves Slater Street, proceeds along King Street and Bank Street to the War Memorial in Coronation Park, Wilkinson Avenue
10am: Muster for parade in Lanesfield, with rolling closures for the parade along Laburnum Road, Dovedale Road, Ward Grove, Delhurst Avenue and Farrington Road
10.30am: Parade to the Wednesfield War Memorial in Church Street, opposite St Thomas’s, involving closures of Vicarage Road, Graiseley Lane, and part of High Street
Dudley area
Thursday
7.30pm: Dudley Festival of Remembrance Show at Dudley Town Hall featuring the Gentlemen Songsters
Sunday
10.15am: Veterans will be joined by servicemen and women and community groups in a parade along Vicar Street, High Street, Stone Street, Priory Street and Priory Road to the cenotaph in Ednam Road for a 10.40am service. Perspex silhouettes representing the fallen will be placed on empty chairs amongst the veterans
10.45am: An act of remembrance at the war memorial at the churchyard at St Augustine’s, Holly Hall, followed by a service of Holy Communion in church
10.30am: At the Black Country Living Museum, the Springfield Brewery war memorial which honours former employees who served in both world wars, will be at the focus of a special service, although normal admission prices apply
10.45am: Stourbridge Royal British Legion will hold a remembrance parade in Mary Stevens Park
9.45am: Meeting for march led by Sedgley Royal British Legion from The Crown in High Street, Sedgley, through the Bull Ring to the Parish Church, where 10 perspex silhouettes, representing named WW1 soldiers, will be placed in pews
Community-organised services will also be held in other areas of the borough on Sunday morning. They include events in Halesowen, Gornal, Kingswinford, Lye, Netherton, Quarry Bank, Wall Heath and Wordsley. People can contact their local Royal British Legion branch for details
Sandwell area
Friday
11am: The Friends of Tipton Cemetery are hosting a commemoration service at Tipton Cemetery at the British Legion island. Pupils from Q3 Academy Tipton will also be attending
Saturday
9.30am: Remembrance service at Wood Green Cemetery, Wednesbury
7.30pm: A Festival of Remembrance service will be held at West Bromwich Town Hall. Ticket-only
Sunday
10.30am: Oldbury veterans and servicemen will meet at Low Town car park for a parade to the War Memorial in the Civic Square for a service at 10.50am
10.25am: In Rowley Regis, a parade will start at 10.25am from Highgate Street car park, Old Hill, and make its way to the cemetery in Powke Lane for a service at 10.45am
10.35am: Parade starts at Smethwick Labour Club, Coopers Lane, arriving at Smethwick War Memorial outside the Council House, High Street, at 10.45am for a service
10.15am: Parade forms at Tipton Sports and Social Club, Coneygre Road, leaving at 10.40am to arrive at the War Memorial at Victoria Park for the service
10.15am: Parade forms at Royal British Legion Wednesbury, Church Hill, leaving at 10.35am and arriving at the War Memorial in the Memorial Gardens in Walsall Street for a service starting just before 11am
There will also be a service at Mesty Croft War Memorial
10.30am: Parade meets at New Square (Car Park B – Primark), West Bromwich, leaving at 10.40am for Reform Street, over the A41 carriageway, into Dartmouth Park main entrance to the war memorial for a service at 10.50am
10.15am: Scouts and Guides in Great Barr will meet at Junction 7 of the M6, leaving at 10.40am, for a remembrance parade to St Margaret’s Church, Chapel Lane, for 10.50am
8pm: Rededication of the Memorial Gardens in Walsall Street, Wednesbury
Monday
10.30am: Remembrance Service in Heath Lane Cemetery at the War Memorial near the entrance on Walsall Road, West Bromwich
Walsall area
Friday
2pm: Wartime-themed tea dance and singalong at Blakenall Village Centre, which follows a schools-only Peace Tree community event with local pupils
7.30pm: Aldridge Youth Theatre, Noddy Park Road, Aldridge, present a night of WW1-themed music and drama
Saturday
7pm: Performance of The Soldier’s Tale at Willenhall Memorial Park bandstand, featuring the Willenhall Singers
Sunday
10.20am: Laying of wreath at the Carless VC Memorial before parade from Walsall Council House’ leaving 10.25am along Lichfield Street, Lower Bridge Street,The Bridge and Bradford Street to the Cenotaph in Bradford Place for a 10.40am service
11.30am: Remembrance Sunday event at the Town Hall including battlefield archives, poppy displays, plus 1940s dancers and music
9.30am: Muster for parade starting at Aldridge Community Centre and reaching the cenotaph on The Green via Middlemore Lane for an 11am service
9.30am: Muster for parade in Willenhall, starting from by the clock tower and travelling to the Cenotaph via Market Place, Stafford Street and Field Street
9.30am: Muster for parade in Brownhills starting from the Memorial Hall on Barnetts Lane and ending at St James’ Church. A short parade will be held between the community centre and the cenotaph on Station Road
9.30am: Muster for parade in Darlaston, where parade will travel from King Street to St Lawrence Church via Victoria Avenue and New Street
9.30am: Muster for parade in Pelsall which will process along the High Street from the village centre to the War
9.30am: Muster for parade in Short Heath from the British Legion building down Church Road, Bloxwich Road North, A462 Lane Head Bridge and A462 High Road to the cenotaph
9.30am: Muster for parade in Streetly from the community centre to Streetly Methodist Church for a Remembrance Service
9.30am: Muster for parade in Bloxwich Memorial Club in Harrison Street to the cenotaph on A34 High Street
1.30pm: Muster for parade in Walsall Wood taking place on A461 Lichfield Road between the junctions of Salters Road/Brownhills Road and Boatmans Lane
11.30am: WW1-themed exhibition at Walsall town Hall featuring schools display, live entertainment, period attire and air raid shelters
3pm: Remembrance and Reconciliation Concert at St Matthew’s Church, Walsall, featuring choirs from the Black Country, France and Germany
6.50pm: Lighting a beacon on the Rowley Hills as part of a national Battle's Over event
Cannock Chase and Stafford area
Sunday
10.30am: Parade starts from South Staffordshire College in Cannock to the Cenotaph for a 10.45am service
10am: Service at the Bethany Chapel, Chadsmoor, before a ceremony at the War Memorial
9.30am: Parade starts at Heath Hayes Constitutional Club followed by 10am services at Bourne Methodist Church and St John’s Church and a parade at 10.35am at the Memorial Gates and a service at 10.55am
10.30am: Service at St James The Great Church at Norton Canes
9.45am: Service at St Peter’s Church, Hednesford, followed by a parade at 10.40am to the War Memorial
9.15am: Service at St Augustine’s Church followed by a parade leaving Mansfield working Men’s Club at 10.45am for a service at the Cenotaph
9am: Parade leaves Brereton Social Club for a 9.15am service St Michael’s Church, followed by a parade at 10.40am to Brereton Cenotaph
10.45am: Civic Party leaves from the Civic Centre to the Borough War Memorial via Riverside Walkway, Bridge Street, Greengate Street and St Mary’s Walk for Act of Remembrance at 10.55am, then on to the County War Memorial at 11.30am for another wreath-laying ceremony
6pm: The Battle’s Over – A Nation’s Tribute ceremony at St Luke’s Church, Cannock, also a performance by Giacoso Singers before a beacon is lit at 7pm
6.30pm: Beacon Lighting Ceremony in Norton Canes at Brownhills Road Playing Fields
6.30pm: Beacon Lighting Ceremony in Rugeley at the War Memorial on Anson Street
As part of the commemorations, the Council is also supporting local
7.30pm: The Last Day, a musical WW1 drama at the Prince of Wales Theatre, Cannock
Other services
Sunday
10.30am: The National Memorial Arboretum’s Field of Remembrance will open to the public with a special service. Runs until November 19
10.50am: Service in Bridgnorth at the War Memorial at Castle Grounds, followed by a parade leaving at 11.15am to St Leonard’s Church for a 11.30am service and, afterwards, centenary-themed entertainment at Castle Hall
10.45am: Service of Remembrance at the RAF Cosford Museum in Hangar 1. The Cosford Military Wives Choir will perform before and during the service
