THE Ilkley Remembrance Day Service will take place on Sunday (November 12) at the Memorial Gardens on The Grove at 3pm.

The procession, lead by a small percussion band from the Air Cadets, and including local dignitaries, Air Cadets, Girl Guides and Scouts of all ages, will leave Whitton Croft Road (behind the Town Hall) at 2.50pm. As the procession passes in front of the Town Hall and along The Grove, members of the public are encouraged to join the rear of the parade by Cllr Stephen Butler, the Chairman of the Parish Council.

"We hope that many people will fall in at the end of the parade and gather with us at the Memorial Gardens," said Cllr Butler. "Let’s make the procession longer than ever."

The Parish Council, the main organiser of the event, has sent out invitations to many war veterans so that they can attend the service. Any member or former member of the armed services is encouraged to attend the ceremony, the first public service after the installation of the memorial to Ilkley’s own Victoria Cross winner, Harold Maufe VC.

After a short address from the Parish Council Chairman, the service will be led by the Reverend Peter Willox of St John’s Church, Ben Rhydding. There will be readings and hymns, with music provided by members of the Two Rivers Concert Band. After the wreathes have been laid, this year, for the first time, some residents of Ilkley who died in battle will be specifically remembered. The names of the eighteen men who died during the Battle of Passchendaele, which ended on 6th November 1917, will be read out by young people from the Air Cadets, Guides and Scouts. The Last Post will be sounded.

During the service there will be a collection for the British Legion.

"I am sure that this will be a very moving and fitting service to remember the hundreds of Ilkley residents who have died in battle," said Cllr Mike Gibbons, who will be reading a poem specially chosen for the occasion. The service will end with the traditional singing of the National Anthem.