Mansfield District Council is to host a parade for Remembrance Sunday this year on Sunday 14 November from 10am to 12.30pm.
Executive Mayor Andy Abrahams, Deputy Lieutenant for Nottinghamshire, Col Roger Merryweather, Mansfield MP Ben Bradley and the council's Chief Executive, Hayley Barsby have been invited to take part in the parade.
Joining them will be councillors, Royal British Legion representatives, Army Reservists, cadet units, ex-service associations and voluntary organisations. The marching music will be provided by the Pipes and Drums of The Seaforth Highlanders Association.
Poppies on lampposts will line the route for the parade and the council's knitted poppies netting will be displayed on the Old Town Hall ahead of Remembrance Sunday. There will also be soldier silhouettes positioned around the district.
Management of the event has been taken on by the council this year with support from the Royal British Legion. There will be road closures along the parade route from 9.30am to 12.30pm and everyone taking part in the parade will need to take a Lateral Flow Test for COVID-19.
Mayor Andy said: "The parade had to be cancelled last year due to the pandemic so the council was keen to mark this important occasion this year, particularly with it being the 100th year anniversary of the Royal British Legion, to remember all those lost to wars and conflict.
"Maintaining Covid safety at this event remains a priority because the virus is still very much with us. So as well as returning a negative lateral flow test, everyone attending will be expected to maintain social distancing and wear a mask during the church service.
"We are also asking people watching the parade to take extra care and to try to maintain a 2m distance between themselves and other spectators from outside their household.
"It almost goes without saying that if anyone in your household has any COVID-19 symptoms, however mild, they should stay at home."
The Mayor is also due to help launch this year's RBL Poppy Appeal on 29 October and encouraged local people to support the campaign.
"The Royal British Legion does amazing and vital support work with veterans and this appeal is their main fundraiser of the year.
"People will be able to buy a poppy from the Legion pop-up shop in the Old Town Hall from 30 October until Saturday 13 November and Legion volunteers will also be running street collections in the town centre.
"The council is marking the 100th anniversary of the Royal British Legion again this Remembrance Day as an additional effort to pay its respects to the fallen.
"Keep an eye out around town for the council’s special nod to the anniversary as a thank you for the amazing work the Legion has done to make sure that all who have served and sacrificed on our behalf are treated fairly with the recognition they deserve."
People who want to pay tribute to loved ones or the fallen will be able to leave messages of remembrance on a display in the window of the former Thomas Cook unit under the canopy at the Four Seasons Shopping Centre on West Gate.
Stickers for the messages can be collected from 30 October from the RBL shop at the Old Town Hall or from WHSmith, F Hinds, Holland & Barrett, Supercuts or The Perfume Shop.
Remembrance Day Parade Schedule
The Remembrance Sunday commemoration will begin at the Civic Centre War Memorial at 10am with a wreath-laying ceremony.
The parade will set off at about 10.15am from the Civic Centre, heading to St Peter and St Paul’s Church along Rosemary Street, Westfield Lane, West Gate and Market Place and Church Street.
The service, which is for parade participants, will start at about 10.40am and will include a two-minute silence at 11am. There will also be a two-minute silence, led by Joe Martin, of the Mansfield branch of the Royal British Legion, in the Market Place at 11am.
After the service, the parade will regroup and make its way back along Church Street to the Market Place for a salute in front of the Old Town Hall at noon as a final mark of respect. It will then be dismissed on West Gate at about 12.15pm.
For safety reasons, there will be road closures in place along these routes from 9.30am until 12.30pm. There will be signed diversions in place and access to some streets will be halted for a short time until the parade passes.
Roads affected by the closures will be: Rosemary Street, Westfield Lane, Wood Street, West Gate, St John Street, Market Place, White Hart Street and Church Street.
People attending the church service at St John's with St Mary's Church, in St John Street, will be allowed access to the church grounds but will have to remain there until the parade has passed.
The council and Royal British Legion apologise for any inconvenience caused by the road closures and appreciate the public’s co-operation and understanding at this time.
Other Remembrance events
Warsop: Warsop, Meden Vale and District branch of the RBL parade will leave the Royal British Legion on Carr Lane at 10.20am on 14 November and there will be a wreath laying ceremony at 10.50am at Warsop War Memorial at The Carrs. A service of remembrance will also be held on Thursday 11 November at 10.50am at Warsop Vale War Memorial which is in West Street, Warsop Vale, NG20 8XL.
Forest Town: Remembrance Sunday parade organised by the Royal British Legion Clipstone and Forest Town Branch starting at 10:15am on 14 November from Forest Town Arena, and then along Clipstone Road West, to St Alban's Church where wreaths will be laid followed by a service.
Mansfield Woodhouse: Parade organised by Mansfield Woodhouse Community Development Group, from 10am until 10.45am, on 14 November from Yeoman Hill Park to St Edmund’s Church via Priory Road, Welbeck Road, Portland Street, High Street and Church Street. There is then a wreath-laying ceremony and two-minute silence at the Cenotaph in Yeoman Hill Park followed by an outdoor service of remembrance, conducted by the Bishop of Sherwood, the Rev Dr Andrew Emerton, at the park's Bandstand until 11.45am.
Pleasley Vale: Wreath laying at the village war memorial at 12noon on 14 November followed by a service of remembrance at St Chad's Church.
Clipstone: A parade at 9.30am on 14 November from the Cricket Pavilion, to All Saints' Church, for a service, followed by wreath-laying ceremony at the war memorial.
Bellamy Road, Mansfield: Mansfield Bellamy branch of the RBL are holding a service at the Life Church South Mansfield at South Mansfield Community Centre, Bellamy Road, at 10.30am on 14 November.