Town Mayor Ian Buckley said Remembrance event is important as ‘it is hard for us to comprehend the sacrifices they made‘
THE Memorial Parade in Penarth will walk through the town centre for the first time in two years on Sunday.
The parade could not go ahead due to coronavirus restrictions in 2020 but in normal years, it often featured community groups from the local RNLI, serving members of the Armed Forces, Air Cadets, as well as scout and guide groups.
The parade will be part of Remembrance events held across the country on Thursday, November 11, and Sunday, November 14 to remember the lives of British soldiers who have died in war.
Kath Fisher, who serves on the Penarth Remembrance committee, said the parade was about increasing visibility in the town, getting the community involved, and passing the message of Remembrance on to the next generation.
Ms Fisher said the parade was about making sure Remembrance “was a big thing, giving Remembrance visibility in the town and a way of bringing people together”.
The public can watch the parade which will start on Sunday, November 14 at 10am. It will begin at Station Approach before marching to the Garden of Remembrance in Alexandra Park.
From there, the parade will head to All Saints Church. After the church service, the parade will then move to the Ex-Servicemen’s Club on Windsor Road
The event at the church is a ticketed event due to coronavirus.
Councillor Ian Buckley, Penarth’s Town Mayor, will be attending the event on Sunday. “It’s hard for us to comprehend the sacrifices they made and thank those who are good,” he said.
“There aren’t many who haven’t lost relatives and people they know in both World Wars as well as later ones.”
This year, three local schools – Albert Road, Victoria Park, and Stanwell – have contributed to displays on Penarth Pier pavilion as well as the Garden of Remembrance in Alexandra Park, Rectory Road.
“We took World War Two photographs and asked our students to describe what the images showed through poetry,” said Mrs Haldenby, who teaches Year 6 at Albert Road Primary School.
Ms Fisher said: “It is to remember the sacrifice that many young men and women made not much older than they are how lucky we are to be where we are today because of what they did.”
For many in the committee, remembrance is personal. Ms Fisher did a tour in Iraq in 2004 in the Air Force and served from 1999 to 2005.
“I lost someone I know. Everyone on the committee has lost someone,” said Ms Fisher.
Flight Lieutenant Simon Shirley said, “it’s our sincere hope that the community of Penarth comes together to join in along the route.” Flt Lt Shirle serves in the RAF and is chairman of the Penarth Remembrance Committee.
People can volunteer to sell poppies and raise money for the Royal British Legion.
If you would like to get involved this year or next, please contact taffg56@hotmail.com if you would like to volunteer. Any donations can also be made to the Royal British Legion.
Mr Buckley reminded people to continue adhering to Covid safety measures.
