REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY ECCLES WE WILL REMEMBER THEM

The people of Eccles turned out in their 100's today, {at a guess some 500}, Sunday 13th November to pay their respects to our fallen heroes at Eccles War memorial on a warm, sunlight morning.

Four members of the Manchester Regiment 1914-18 History Group in period costume stood guard at the four corners of the Cenotaph a memory of local lads who went out to fight and never returned.

The service officiated over by Pastor Charles Williamson from Churches Together in Eccles saw the Goodshaw Brass Band lead the marchers into the cordoned off area around the Cenotaph, as prayers were said for the fallen.

The standard bearers dipped their flags as Helen Toole played The Last Post and the two minute silence was observed in total silence as the crowd bowed their heads deep in contemplation for loved ones.

After a reading of  the Kohima Epitaph the laying of wreathes commenced led by Barbara Keeley MP for Worsley and Eccles South followed by Councillor John Mullen, Joanne Hardman, Brigadier Tom O'Brien, Major Jordan Dickinson, Lieutenant Nyang, Janice Coxon, Wayne Fox, Ian Moss, Joan Sullivan, and Bernard Kelly.

This was followed by The Lords Prayer, The National Anthem and a blessing by Pastor Charles Williams.

As the Goodshaw Brass Band led the veterans out onto Barton Lane the crowd burst into spontaneous applause which was so heartening to see and fully deserved.

Then a flood of people began to lay their wreaths and poppies, people of all ages, toddlers included showing their respect, wreaths from local community groups, sporting clubs, schools and touching individual tributes soon filled up all places on the Cenotaph.

A convoy of some 40 motorcyclists who had attended in silence, simultaneously revved up their bikes bedecked with flags and roared past the Cenotaph again to standing applause from the onlookers.

I have been attending the Remembrance Sunday service for many, many years and it is heartening to see it going from strength to strength with the attendance getting bigger each year and people of all ages.

Finally a massive thank you to Tony Martin for setting up the P.A. system which enabled every word said by Pastor Williams and invited speakers to be heard crystal clear and lets not forget Graham Walker who once again arranged and coordinated todays event, a logistical nightmare but as befits an army veteran it ran like clockwork, well done those men!