Yate Town Council, St Mary’s Church and the Royal British Legion joined together for Remembrance Sunday to remember those who lost their lives and suffered through war.
The parade left Poole Court with over two hundred uniformed services, veterans, guides, brownies, scouts and beavers, and local representatives from associations and community groups, with the Boys Brigade 1st Yate Company Band leading the way.
Amongst the dignitaries attending this year was Councillor Karl Tomasin, Mayor of Yate, South Gloucestershire’s Deputy Lord Lieutenant, Susie Hewson, local MP Luke Hall, Councillor Ruth Davis Chair of South Gloucestershire and surrounding district Councils Chairs and Mayors.
St Mary’s Church streamed the service into the adjacent church hall and live audio was also transmitted into the car park to reach as many people as possible in a safe manner.
Acts of Remembrance were held outside at the Lych Gates and Parnall Memorial with bugler Connor Crane sounding the last post and memorial names read by Air Cadets.
Reverend Joanne Hodge led the congregation in a 2-minute silence held at 11am before wreaths were laid at the Lych Gate. Wreaths were laid by dignitaries, local veterans, uniformed services, and representatives of the NHS, community groups and associations.
Following the service at the Lych Gate, an act of Remembrance was held at the Parnall Memorial within St Mary’s Church yard to commemorate the 52 men and women, and 3 unknown civilian employees of the Parnall Aircraft Ltd, who lost their lives as a result of two air raids which took place in 1941 during the Second World War. Mark Haslam, a representative of Whirlpool Corporation, whose factory is on the site of Parnall’s Aircraft Factory, laid a wreath in their memory. Councillor Cheryl Kirby, Deputy Mayor of Yate, laid a wreath on behalf of Yate Town Council with uniformed services and representatives of the young and mature population of Yate also laying wreaths. We would like to thank all of those who attended the parade and service to help us with our act of Remembrance. We would like the further thank Rich McD for his photographs of the day.