Beacon of hope as special remembrance tribute to light up Rochdale

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Beacon of hope

There will be a moving postscript to the Remembrance Day commemorations when a beacon is lit outside Rochdale Town Hall to mark the moment when peace broke out.

It will be one of hundreds of Beacons of Light that will shine brightly across the country on Sunday 11 November at 7pm as part of the national Battle’s Over eulogy including at Brown Wardle above Whitworth.

The lighting of beacons will be preceded by the playing of the Last Post by lone buglers at Rochdale Cenotaph and at Lobden Golf Club in Whitworth at 6.55pm.

The special evening event will conclude a day of reflection and remembrance across the borough of Rochdale to mark the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day.

Following the beacon lighting churches across the country, including St Chad’s in Rochdale, St Thomas in Newhey and St Bartholomew’s in Whitworth, will ring their bells at 7.05pm in a united celebration of peace. 

The Battle’s Over tribute is the vision of Pageantmaster Bruno Peek, who has organised international events for nearly 40 years. Thousands of beacons are expected to be lit throughout the land. 

Councillor Janet Emsley, cabinet member for the armed forces, said: “This is a lovely way to conclude the day’s remembrance events and the lighting of the beacon, with the stunning backdrop of Rochdale Town Hall, will be a really moving occasion. It would be lovely to see people turning out to mark the time when the guns fell quiet and peace broke out across Europe. The years of darkness were followed by light and this special service is about commemorating that moment. Lest we forget.” 

The ‘Battle’s Over’ service outside Rochdale Town Hall is open to everyone to attend.