The main Lisburn Remembrance Sunday parade will form at Sackville Street at 10.30am and, led by Lisburn Young Defenders Flute Band, will make its way along Wallace Avenue, Belfast Road, Seymour Street and Castle Street to the Castle Gardens War Memorial.

There will be a short wreath laying ceremony, the Last Post will be sounded and a two minute silence will be observed at 11am before the parade makes its way to Lisburn Cathedral for the Remembrance Sunday service. Following the service the parade will make its way through the city centre back to the Royal British Legion in Sackville Street.

Meanwhile a parade and service, organised by the Hillsborough Women's Royal British Legion Branch, will begin at 10.30am at the Scout Hall in Ballynahinch Street.

The parade, which includes representatives of local youth organisations, will make its way to the War Memorial in the village and, following a wreath laying ceremony, the parade will proceed to Hillsborough Presbyterian Church for a service. The parade will return through the village to the Scout Hall at the end of the service.

Prior to the main parades, short wreath laying ceremonies will be held in Seymour Hill and HIlden war memorials.

The ceremony at the entrance to Seymour Hill estate will be held at 9am on Sunday morning. Local politicians, as well as members of the Girls and Boys Brigade, Apprentice Boys and Orange Order, will join representatives of Derriaghy, Dunmurry and Seymour Hill Community Associations for the wreath laying ceremony.

The Mayor, Councillor Ronnie Crawford, will also be attending a wreath laying ceremony at Hilden War Memorial at 10am on Sunday morning, before making his way back to the city centre for the main Lisburn City parade.

Mayor urges everyone to back Poppy Appeal

IN the run up to Remembrance Sunday Lisburn's Mayor Councillor Ronnie Crawford has appealed to the city's residents to continue their generous support of the Royal British Legion's Poppy Day Appeal. "I would like to appeal to the Lisburn public to significantly increase their giving to the Royal British Legion's Poppy Day Appeal. Last year the City donated the significant sum of �35,000," he said. The Royal British Legion is the UK's leading charity providing financial, social and emotional support to millions who have served or are currently serving in the Armed Forces, and their dependants. Thanks to the continued support from Lisburn and other towns and cities throughout the UK they can continue to provide their services.

The Mayor added: "It was very heartening to see the reception given to our homecoming troops and for a short time people now have a tangible way in which to express their widespread gratitude. As Mayor of Lisburn City I would love to see Lisburn top the poll in their generosity to this cause.

"There are dozens of names of Lisburn soldiers who once walked our streets, engraved on our beautiful War Memorial in Castle Street. They never came back and I think we all have a duty to turn out on Remembrance Sunday to honour their memory," he concluded.

Forces Help holds charity fair

SSAFA Forces Help will be helping Santa to get a head start on his Christmas shopping on Saturday November 29 from 10am - 5pm with a Christmas Fair in the charming setting of Hillsborough Village Centre.

The Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen & Families Association traditionally provides year-round help and support to the families of those who have served - or are serving - in the defence forces. The fundraising Christmas Fair is designed to help fund that ongoing support. The event features a wide range of goodies, from designer fashion for all the family, jewellery, books and crafts to children's presents and fabulous foodstuffs.

Lisburn Mayor, Councillor Ronnie Crawford officially launched the 2008 Poppy Appeal during a ceremony at the Lisburn Cenotaph on Saturday November 1.

Ulster Star
07/11/2008