9:10am Thursday 12th November 2009
By Tom Moseley
TOWNS across East Lancashire fell silent yesterday to mark Remembrance Day.
A crowd gathered outside Blackburn Town Hall at 11am to commemorate the 91st anniversary of the end of the First World War.
Council employee Paul Roberts, a member of Darwen’s Church Lads and Girls Brigade, played the Last Post on the bugle on the town hall steps, where workers joined the mayor and councillors to pause for reflection.
Rockets were fired from the roof of the town hall to mark the beginning and end of the two-minute silence, which was impeccably observed at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
Among those present was Blackburn councillor Salim Mulla, a member of Lancashire Council of Mosques, who said: “I was proud to wear the poppy.
"We have to honour those who have lost their lives.”
Crowds also gathered at the war memorial in Burnley.
Canon Tom Bill led the remembrance service which featured a two-minute silence and prayers.
Bill Ashworth, chairman of Burnley Royal British Legion, helped lead the service.
He said: “The last remaining survivors of the First World War died last month, so now we have to remember those, as well as the survivors from the Second World War.
"We also remember those lads and lasses currently fighting in Iraq and overseas.”
Burnley Mayor, Coun John Harbour, said: “Remembering the sacrifice by those in the armed forces is crucial.”
Later in the day, the Duke of Kent was in Nelson to unveil the new war memorial at the ACE Centre, in Cross Street.
Commemorations in the town were given added poignancy following the recent completion of the L-shaped cenotaph, which sits alongside the old cross and Scouts memorial outside the library.
Moments after a two-minute silence, which began with the Last Post by Colour Sergeant Garry Copeland, of the 4th Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, His Royal Highness laid a wreath, alongside Mayor of Pendle, Coun Marjorie Adams.
Hundreds of people lined the streets of Ramsbottom as the Royal British Legion led a march through the town centre to commemorate Armistice Day.
Around 500 Rossendale residents followed the service before laying down poppy wreaths.
A service was held at St Paul’s Church led by Rev Anthony Barnshaw.
Colin Grundy, chairman of Ramsbottom Royal British Legion, said: “It was an excellent turnout, with more people than ever attending.
“It was a bigger parade because people are thinking about Afghanistan. It’s also important to remember those who are still fighting.”
Elsewhere, silences were observed at Darwen and Accrington Town Halls and a small remembrance service took place at Royal Blackburn Hospital.
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