Soldiers past and present will be in the community’s thoughts next weekend, as a number of services are held to mark Remembrance Day.
Traditional commemorations are due to take place across the borough, while other events will include a military-themed day in Hornchurch Country Park, and a drama and music performance at Queen’s Theatre.
St Edward the Confessor Church will remember the fallen of Passchendaele a century on.
Read our round-up below for all the details.
Saturday, November 11
Romford: Service from 10.45am, at Market Place
Sunday, November 12
Romford: Parade at 10.30am, followed by a service at 10.55am in Coronation Gardens
Romford: Choral evensong service at St Edward the Confessor Church, Market Place, titled One Hundred Years On: Commemorating Passchendaele, 1917. In remembrance of the First World War battle, historian Jim Bolton will read the names of local soldiers killed. Starts at 6pm
Upminster: Parade at 10.40am, subsequent service at the war memorial, Corbets Tey Road
Hornchurch: St Andrew’s Church, High Street, service follows a parade at 10.15am
Hornchurch: ‘People and Planes’ event at the Ingrebourne Valley Visitor Centre, Hornchurch Country Park, 10am-4pm. Featuring demonstrations by the 10th Essex Regiment Living History Group, a display of RAF Hornchurch and civilian wartime memorabilia (supplied by Tony Philpot and Terry Roberts of the Hornchurch Aerodrome Historical Society), craft activities for children, and a Battle of Britain roadshow with author Richard Smith. A two-minute silence will be observed at 11am. Call 01708 520364
Elm Park: Guests will muster at 10.45am at the Royal British Legion branch, Maylands Avenue, with a two-minute silence at 11am. A parade to St Nicholas Church, Woodcote Avenue, will follow, with a church service taking place before members and the public return to the legion for an afternoon of auctions and raffles to raise money for the Poppy Appeal
Harold Hill: Service and two-minute silence at the war memorial, Hilldene Avenue, from 10.45am, then a commemoration at St George’s Church Centre
Harold Wood: Short service at the Memorial Hall, Gubbins Lane, at 10.45am, ahead of a march to St Peter’s Church for the main commemoration
Rainham: Parade at 10.40am, followed by a service at the war memorial, Broadway
Ardleigh Green: Parade from 10.15am, then a commemoration at All Saints Church, Ardleigh Green Road
Monday, November 13
From Tipperary to Flanders Fields, Queen’s Theatre, Billet Lane, Hornchurch
A production exploring the stories of soldiers, nurses, factory workers and more during the First World War, through music hall classics, poetry, readings and drama. The show also incorporates original footage from the 1916 The Battle of the Somme film. 2.30pm, tickets £14. Visit queens-theatre.co.uk or call 01708 443333.
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