Rawtenstall centenary beacon

People are invited to attend a beacon-lighting service in Rawtenstall Cemetery to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War.

Rossendale Council’s communities team has worked with Rev Chris Casey from St Mary’s Church, Rawtenstall, and members of the community to organise the event on November 11.

The location is particularly appropriate as the war memorial in the cemetery, erected in September 1915, is the earliest known community war memorial to be built during the First World War. This will be reflected in the community nature of the service.

Children and young people from local schools and uniformed groups will gather at the entrance to the cemetery on Burnley Road at 6.30pm. They will take part in a lantern parade to the memorial where Water Band will play.

Relatives of those who are named on the memorial are also invited to take part and can contact communitiesteam@rossendalebc.gov.uk.

A short service will be followed by the lighting of a beacon at 7pm and people will be given small  wooden crosses to plant in the ground behind the war memorial.

The service is part of the national Battle’s Over commemorations which will see more than 1,000 beacons lit around the country. Churches will also ring their bells at 7.05pm.

The Rawtenstall beacon is among several commemorative initiatives which have received funding from Rossendale Council. See the full list of remembrance events taking place around the borough here.