Islington commemorates Remembrance week and Somme centenary

Remembrance events will be held in Islington throughout November to honour those who lost their lives in war, including a special service to mark 100 years since the battle of the Somme.

 

Residents are invited to Islington’s annual Remembrance parade, to be followed by an inter-faith service taking place on Sunday, 13 November.  The parade along Upper Street starts at 10am at Highbury Corner. The Mayor, councillors and other officials will join the parade at the Town Hall, which will then proceed to Islington Green for the inter-faith service at 10.40am.  A two-minute silence will take place at 11am and wreaths will be laid.

 

Two other services take place later that day for people to pay their respects, at the Spa Green War Memorial in Rosebery Avenue, Clerkenwell, at 12noon, and a Remembrance community event at 1.30pm by the War Memorial Arch in Royal Northern Gardens, Holloway.

 

Before the main Remembrance parade, on Thursday, 10 November there will be a ceremony in Islington and St Pancras Cemetery.  The mayor and Sheriff of Islington will lay a poppy wreath at the Islington war memorial at 10.30am, and Deputy Leader of the Council Cllr Burgess and Chief Executive Lesley Seary will lay a floral wreath at the civilian memorial.

 

There will also be two minutes silence held on the steps of Islington Town Hall at 11am, Friday 11 November. The Mayor and Council Leader will be joined by members of the Islington Veterans Association.

 

2016 also marks 100 years since the battle of the Somme, where more than 750 men with connections to Islington and Finsbury lost their lives. Islington Council and Islington Veterans Association will be holding a special centenary event on Friday 18 November to commemorate all those who died in the battle.

 

The event, held at Manor Gardens, will include a service and plaque unveiling at 10.30am, followed by refreshments and a short presentation by descendants of Sgt Hugh Victor Hember, an Islington soldier who died at the Somme.  All are welcome.

 

Cllr Gary Poole, Islington Council’s Armed Forces Champion, said: “The events being held in Islington throughout November give us the opportunity to remember those who sacrificed their lives in conflict.

 
“This year we will also be marking 100 years since the end of the Battle of the Somme, which cost the lives of hundreds of men from Islington and has a special prominence in our borough’s history.

 

“We invite residents to join us at one of the many events across the borough to pay thanks to Islington’s servicemen and women.”