Lest We Forget

Remembrance Day Parade In Westhoughton

Residents of the Town of Westhoughton gathered together on Sunday 10th November for the annual Remembrance Day Parade. Following a service at St Bartholomew’s Church conducted by the Rector, Reverend Carol Pharoah, the community gathered at the War Memorial to pay their respects to our fallen heroes. The short service including wreath laying at the War Memorial led by the Town Clerk, Pauline Rowley, was followed by a parade around the town. Led by Parade Marshal, Sgt Lee Hill, the parade this year also saw the return of the Royal British Legion Westhoughton Branch Standard, which has been absent in recent years due to the Branch being dormant. This year the branch has had a new breath of life and the group has gone from 14 members to 32 and meeting once a month on the 1st Wednesday at the Westhoughton Sports and Social Club.

This years parade also saw the brand new Union Standard Flag which was blessed on the 20th October and given to the people of the town by the local branch of the RBL. (The RBL branch will be the custodians of it.) The RAFA Leigh Branch standard was also on Parade.

It was a great pleasure to see so many Veterans as well as serving members of the Armed Forces out on Sunday, who either walked in the parade of supported alongside. We hope that these numbers will continue to grow year on year.

There was such a fantastic amount of support from the community from local schools, churches, community groups and residents and we can’t thank you all enough for attending.

Our sincere thanks to Quirkycurls Photography for sending over some lovely photos.

Remembrance Day - Westhoughton

Members of the public gathered on Monday 11th November to pay their respects, at 11am the Maroons were fired and a minutes silence was held. Local resident Clive said the Exhortation, the service was attended by local residents, schools and nursery’s.

Our thanks to Debra Parr Photographer for the lovely photos.

Remembrance Day in Bolton

Mayor of Westhoughton, Councillor Neil Maher, attended the Armistice Service at Bolton. He said “On a beautiful sunny morning it was an honour to attend the Armistice Day Commemoration in front of Bolton Town Hall, as Mayor of Westhoughton. I was accompanied by the Deputy Mayor, Cllr Gillian Wroe. It was wonderful to see so many veterans, members of the public and school children showing their respect in the poignant two minutes silence and short service. We spent some time afterwards chatting to some of the veterans who were keen to share their stories about their service in the armed force.”