People from across the region are being invited to enjoy the royal visit by Princess Anne to Southport this Friday (29th September 2023), as timings and details were revealed.
Her Royal Highness will officially re-dedicate Southport War Memorial to commemorate its 100th anniversary.
The memorial was opened in 1923 by the Earl of Derby and 320 children whose parents had been tragically killed on the battlefields in World War One.
The parade this Friday will form up at Victoria Park in Southport at 10.30am, departing at 11.15am.
The service at Southport War Memorial starts at 12pm, all welcome.
Veterans from across the UK are invited to join the parade.
Hundreds of local children from 27 schools in the Southport area will be involved in the event, in tribute to the youngsters who officially unveiled Southport War Memorial in 1923.
During World War One, between 1914 and 1918, it is estimated that nearly 10,000 men and women from Southport served with His Majesty’s Forces overseas or at home, out of a population of 72,500.
Southport War Memorial. Photo by Sefton Council
The Roll of Honour in the four Cenotaphs of the Memorial included no fewer than 1,133 names when it was officially unveiled.
Hundreds more were added during the Second World War and from conflicts around the world since then, including in Iraq and Afghanistan during this century.
Event organiser, Major Nick McEntee TD VR REME and Chairman of the Royal British Legion, Southport, said:
“I am enjoying seeing the excitement continue to build in Southport the closer we get to the rededication of our Southport War Memorial.
“While we are organising this event to celebrate the centenary of Southport War Memorial and raise awareness of the Southport Royal British Legion Hub, we are also doing this for our town as a whole to raise Southport’s profile.
“There is no other town like Southport in the country.
“We hope everyone in our town gets behind this special event and supports it.
“Let’s put Southport on the map!
“We’d love to show the country how good we are as a town, honouring the 100th anniversary of our Southport War Memorial, and celebrating our heritage.
“All of those hundreds of names on the Monument are local people, many of whose relatives are living here still.
“They deserve to be remembered.”
Southport War Memorial. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
Her Royal Highness will be attending the event in her capacity as President of the Women’s Section of the Royal British Legion.
Located in London Square on Lord Street, the War Memorial was unveiled on 18th November 1923 by the Earl of Derby along with local children of the fallen from World War One.
The impressive structure comprises an obelisk flanked by two colonnades in the form of Greek temples. Outside the colonnades are public memorial gardens, each containing a Pool of Remembrance and fountains.
Similar to what Sefton Council does ahead of Remembrance Day, jet washing of the Southport War Memorial area will take place shortly before the event.
The commemorative event will consist of a parade marching from Victoria Park in Southport to the War Memorial where a Drumhead Service will be conducted to mark the re-dedication of the War Memorial.
Southport War Memorial. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
The re-dedication will be directed by Colonel (Retd) Monsignor Stephen Alker MBE and attended by senior civil dignitaries and senior military figures.
The parade will be led by the Band of the Royal Air Force College and be made up of Armed Forces personnel and Veterans from all three services, as well as Cadets from The Sea Cadets, Army Cadet Force, The Royal Air Force Cadets and Merchant Taylor’s Combined Cadet Force.
There will be contingents from 27 schools in the Southport area.
For further information please contact southport.secretary@rbl.community
Motorists are being advised to be aware of road closures in place when a royal visit takes place in Southport.
The War Memorial on Lord Street in Southport. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
Lord Street, Duke Street and various side roads off Lord Street, Southport will be temporarily closed for the Military Parade and service in London Square, Southport on Friday 29th September 2023.
The closures will take place between 9am and 3pm, except Duke Street which will be closed for a maximum of 15 minutes at 11.10am to allow the parade to step off from Victoria Park until it reaches Lord Street, and then again upon its return at approximately 1.30pm.
Access will be maintained for Emergency Services, and wherever possible for residents.
The diversion route will be via Weld Road, Coastal Road, Marine Drive, Esplanade, Promenade, Leicester Street and vice versa.
For further information please contact southport.secretary@rbl.community
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