REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY - 10 NOVEMBER 2013
A large parade assembled at the side of Cleckheaton Town Hall for the 2013 Remembrance Sunday Parade and Service.
Our Distinguished Guests this year included the Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire Mr Gordon Tollefson CStJ, JP, DL, FRSPH, ACH, Lady J Shaw, Councillors Kath and Andrew Pinnock, Councillor David Hall and Councillor E Holmes.
We were also delighted to have with us another Distinguished Guest, Captain Danny Morrell, 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards. Captain Morrell came to Cleckheaton from Hampshire that morning especially for our Remembrance Day Service and was returning the same day.
The Coldstream Guards decided to send a representative to the Remembrance Service in any town in the UK that had one of their Guardsman buried.
In our case, it is of course, Sergeant Christian Ian Hickey, 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, who died in Iraq, aged 30, on 18 October 2005.
Under the direction of the Parade Marshall, Mr Eddie Morton, the parade marched off at 14.30 hrs to stirring marching music, provided by The West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Band, one of the finest military style bands in the UK. At the rear of the parade was a fire appliance from Cleckheaton Fire Station.
The wreath laying party formed up in front of the Spenborough War Memorial in Memorial Park and wreaths were laid by: Deputy Lieutenant Mr Gordon Tollefson, representing Her Majesty The Queen; for the Spenborough Branch of The Royal British Legion, Mr Barry Scott (Royal Engineers) deputizing for the indisposed Spenborough Branch President, Mr Eric Martin MBE; for The Coldstream Guards, Captain Danny Morrell; for the Womens Section, Spenborough Branch of The Royal British Legion, Mrs Sandra Garstang together with wreaths from other local organisations.
Members of the public were invited by the Branch Chairman, Mr Eddie Morton, to place a cross in the upper tier of the Memorial. This is now a regular event and seems very popular.
The Last Post was played by the band's bugler. This was followed by the Two Minute Silence and then the bugler played revielle.The Branch Chairman delivered the Exhortation and Kohima Ephitat.
The parade re-formed, circled and saluted the Memorial before marching back to the Town Hall.
This years service was held at St John's Church, which is now fully open after its re-ordering.
The Royal British Legion Branch Chaplain, Reverend Brunel James conducted the service with a good sized congregation in attendance.
Tea and biscuits were once again provided by the Womens Section, to whom thanks are extended by the Branch Chairman, Mr Eddie Morton.
District Scout Commissioner Mike Terry Legion Members
Combined Army Cadet Force
Spen Vallet Air Cadets 2490 Squadron
Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, Mr Gordon Tollefson
Mr Barry Scott receiving his wreath Capt D Morrell receiving his wreath
The Wreath laying party
The West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Band
Marching past the Memorial.
Reflection time for Branch Chaplain, The Reverend Brunel James
Standard Bearers at St John's Church, Cleckheaton
To round off the day.
It's the way 'e tells 'em!
Left to right:
Captain Danny Morrell, Ist Battalion Coldstream Guards, Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, Mr Gordon Tollefson CStJ, JP, DL, FRSPH, ACH and the Spenborough Branch Chairman, Mr Eddie Morton.
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