TOWNS and villages across Dorset will fall silent on Sunday November 10 to pay their respects to members of the armed forces who lost their lives fighting for their country.

This year’s Remembrance Sunday events are particularly poignant, as it is the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings – a pivotal moment in the fight for Europe and the largest seaborne invasion in military history.

Various initiatives and projects have already taken place across the county leading up to services and parades on Sunday.

Details of the ceremonies from across the region are as follows:

BOURNEMOUTH

On Sunday, November 10 a parade of ex-service associations, pre-service and youth organisations will be marching through the town centre and the Central Gardens to the Bournemouth War Memorial.

At 10.57am the Remembrance Sunday Service will be held around the war memorial conducted by the Reverend Dr Ian Terry, team rector of Bournemouth Town Centre Parish, with clergy representing other denominations and faiths/beliefs in Bournemouth.

Bournemouth Mayor Cllr Susan Phillips will join Bournemouth’s charter trustees and civic dignitaries along with armed service representatives and the public in remembering all victims of war.

A field gun will mark the beginning and end of the two minutes' silence.

After the service, there will be a wreath-laying ceremony. A march-past of the ex-services associations and youth organisations will take place in the Central Gardens after official wreaths have been laid, and they will march back through the gardens and town centre.

The following roads will be closed from 10am until after the service:

  • Avenue Road
  • Bourne Avenue
  • The lower part of Braidley Road from the bridge to the roundabout

A spokesman for the charter trustees office for Bournemouth said: "Ex-services associations and veterans wishing to take part in the parade should go to the pathway outside The Moon in the Square, Exeter Road, by 10.20 am and await instructions from the parade marshal.

"Alternatively, veterans may go straight to the war memorial if they are unable to take part in the parade – an area in front of the war memorial is reserved for veterans in wheelchairs and some seating is provided for veterans who are unable to stand.

"Seating is subject to availability on the day.

"Bourne Avenue provides an excellent viewing area for both the service and parades. Please note that access to the gardens is restricted to those who are taking part in the parade and the pathway must be kept clear at all times.

"After the civic procession has left the gardens, members of the public will be allowed access to the war memorial to lay personal tributes."

Bournemouth Echo:

POOLE

The Poole Remembrance Day Service and parade will be in Poole Park as usual this year.

Veterans need to be at the cricket pavilion in Poole Park ready to parade off at 10.30 am, escorted by Poole Sea Cadets, civic dignitaries and VIP guests.

The service, set for the war memorial, starts at 10.50 am.

Music for the Service will be provided by the Poole Civic Band.

EAST DORSET

Wimborne's Remembrance Day Service will be held in the Minster Church, 3pm, on Sunday, November 10.

A parade to the service will gather at the Royal British Legion Car Park from 2pm ready for the parade to form up at 2.30pm and march off at 2.40pm.

It will be led by The Wessex Military Band – reaching the Minster in time for the service to start.

After the service the congregation will gather at the war memorial on Minster Green. Wreaths will be laid, led by HM Lord-Lieutenant of Dorset, Angus Campbell, followed by the two minutes silence.

Wreaths will then be laid before the parade marches back to the Royal British Legion, passing the saluting dais where the HM Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Dorset, Angus Campbell will take the salute.

This year's Armistice Day Service will be held on Monday, November 11, with a short service at the war memorial on Minster Green, followed by town minutes silence at 11am.

This will be followed by the laying of one wreath.

Bournemouth Echo:

FERNDOWN

The Remembrance Day parade and service will be on Sunday, November 10, starting from the KGV Sportsfield at 2.15pm led by the Ferndown Mayor Cllr Julie Robinson, town councillors with the Bournemouth Sea Cadet Band, veterans, cadets, guides, scouts and youth groups from Ferndown, West Moors, Longham, Parkstone, Bournemouth and Poole marching to St.Mary’s Church followed by the Wessex Military Vehicles Group.

After the Remembrance Service, the parade will return at 4pm.

This year’s Armistice Day Service will be on Monday November 11, from 10.45am in the Royal British Legion Garden of Remembrance, Church Road, Ferndown.

CHRISTCHURCH

At 9.50am a parade will leave the royal British Legion premises in Bargates and march to the Priory for a wreath laying ceremony followed by a church service in the Priory.

On completion of the service of Remembrance the parade will re-form at the Priory and march back to the RBL hall, which will be open, a buffet will be provided and the bar will be open.

SWANAGE

The Remembrance Day parade will gather at Shore Road before proceeding to St Mary's Church at 2pm. Following the service the parade will proceed to the War Memorial at the Recreation Ground where a wreath laying ceremony will take place.

Bournemouth Echo:

NORTH DORSET

  • Blandford Forum's commemorations take place in the Market Place from 2.45pm on Sunday November 10 where there will be a wreath-laying ceremony at the war memorial on the front of the Corn Exchange.

The service will be accompanied by the Blandford Stour Valley Band who will perform a hymn in the open air prior to the start of the parade and church service at approximately 4pm.

Refreshments are available in the Corn Exchange after the parade for anyone not attending the church service.

On Monday November 11, Armistice Day, there will be a short event and two-minutes' silence in the Market Place to mark the 101st anniversary of the end of the First World War. People are invited to arrive just before 11am.

  • Shaftesbury's commemoration takes place on Sunday November 10. Marchers for the parade can gather from 10.30am onwards at Kings Arms car-park before proceeding to the town Memorial.

The next day there will be a service at 11am at the Town Hall to mark the Armistice.