WHILE Winsford's regeneration may be affecting this year’s Remembrance Weekend activities, the building works themselves will now be adding to the spirit of the occasion.
Keir Construction have put up new Remembrance-themed hoardings near the town’s Cenotaph and Boer War Memorials in Fountain Court.
Complete with Royal British Legion branding, the hope is to minimise the building work's impact on the solemnity of the occasion.
The works mean the town is holding two separate Remembrance services this weekend, one on Saturday and one on Sunday.
This is to ensure as many people as possible – up to 650 at each service – can attend the ceremonies to pay their respects.
Cheshire West and Chester Council’s regeneration lead, Cllr Nathan Pardoe, says the new hoardings will make a ‘positive difference’ to this year’s events.
He added: "I'm hugely grateful to Kier Construction for recognising how important Remembrance is to the people of Winsford.
"I'd like to say a big thank you to them for going the extra mile in organising this.
"The reaction to the hoardings by residents has been over whelmingly positive.
“They'll make a positive difference to the Remembrance events this weekend, which is our chance to remember those who served and their families."
On Saturday, November 11, there will be a service at the war memorials from 10.45am.
Sunday's event will start with a parade beginning at 10.15am at Wyvern House, before heading to Fountain Court via The Drumber, where another service will take place, again from 10.45am.
Members of the public are asked to consider attending on Saturday, given the larger number of invited guests taking part in the parade on Sunday.
The services on both days will be conducted by Winsford town mayor’s chaplain, Rev Callum Boothroyd, of St Chad's Church in Winsford.
Wreaths will be laid on both days. The Lord Lieutenant will lay a wreath on behalf of His Majesty the King, and the town mayor will lay a wreath on behalf of the people of Winsford.
This year will be the last time the town’s remembrance service is held in Fountain Court.
In 2024, the memorials are due to be moved to a new dedicated civic square as part of the town's ongoing regeneration.
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