Rossendale remembers

Beacons will be lit in Rossendale to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War.

The beacons at Rawtenstall Cemetery and on the hillside at Whitworth are among more than 1,000 which will be lit around the country at 7pm on November 11.

They symbolise the end of the darkness of war and the return to the light of peace, and are part of the national Battle’s Over commemorations.

Churches and cathedrals around the world – including St Nicholas Church in Newchurch and St Bartholomew’s in Whitworth – will also ring their bells during the weekend.

The war memorial in Rawtenstall Cemetery was erected in 1915 and was the country’s first community memorial. The beacon there is among several commemorative initiatives which have received funding from Rossendale Council.

Others include:

• The sold-out Pack Up Your Troubles celebration at the Riverside Centre, Whitworth, on November 10.
• A morning of reflection with actor Neil Bell, who appeared in the Mike Lee-directed film Peterloo, at The Whitaker, at 10.30am on November 11.
• A memorial bench in Whitworth.
• An exhibition about the young men who lost their lives in the First World War at Bacup Natural History Museum from 11am to 3pm on November 4.

The Whitworth beacon is funded by the town council and there will also be a First World War-themed cafe at St Bartholomew’s Church on November 11.

Various people and community groups in Rossendale have raised money to erect poppies on lampposts in the borough. Rossendale Council’s bin lorries and other vehicles will also sport special poppies.

Council leader Alyson Barnes said:

This year’s remembrance events will be especially poignant as the nation marks the centenary of the end of the First World War. That’s why we wanted to support our local communities as they come together to remember all those who lost their lives.

The borough’s annual Festival of Remembrance concert takes place at St Peter’s Church, Haslingden, at 4pm on November 4. It will feature Haslingden Concert Band and the Veterans In Communities Singing Group.

The Mayor of Rossendale, Councillor Ann Kenyon, will attend. Admission is free with donations in aid of the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.

Traditional Remembrance services will take place in the valley over Remembrance weekend:

November 9

• Stacksteads  – 10.45am Peace Garden, Toll Bar.

November 10

• Edenfield 10.45am – Memorial Gardens, Market Street

November 11

• Helmshore – 8.50am, parade begins on Broadway with a service at St Thomas Church at 9.15am followed by wreath laying at the memorial gardens and refreshments at Sunnybank Social Club.
• Crawshawbooth  – 10am at Rakefoot Methodist Church, followed by remembrance at the war memorial at 11am.
• Whitworth – 10.20am parade to the cenotaph assembles at corner of Tong Lane and Market Street. Service is followed refreshments at The Riverside.
• Cowpe – 10.45am at Cowpe Sunday School followed by remembrance at the war memorial at 11am.
• Waterfoot – 12.30pm at Trickett’s Memorial Gardens.
• Haslingden – 1om at the war memorial in Greenfield Gardens then a parade followed by refreshments at the Commercial Hotel
• Rawtenstall – 2.25pm at the Town Square for a parade to the cenotaph for a service at 3pm. Parade returns to the Town Square and refreshments at Rawtenstall Cricket Club.
• Bacup – 2.30pm at the fire station for a parade to the cenotaph for a service. The parade returns to the Conservative Club for refreshments.