Lord Provost to lead commemorative events marking centenary of the end of the Great War in Aberdeen

31 October 2018

Several commemorative events are taking place across the city to mark the centenary of the end of the Great War in 1918.

Remembrance Sunday will be marked in Aberdeen next weekend as the Lord Provost and other public representatives join serving forces, reserves, veterans and cadets to remember the sacrifices made in conflict.

A short ceremony will be held in front of the city’s war memorial on Schoolhill at 10.50am on Sunday 11 November. Prayers will be said, and a hymn sung before two minutes of silence are observed to remember the fallen at 11am. The Lord Provost of Aberdeen Barney Crockett will lead the laying of wreaths at the memorial and children from Lochside Academy will be reading poems. A church service will be held at the Kirk of St Nicholas Uniting at the conclusion of the ceremony.

Representatives of the Armed Forces and ex-service organisations will muster in Little Belmont Street from 10.00am and leave at 10.30am to parade to the war memorial led by Grampian Police Scotland Pipe Band. Music at the memorial will be provided by Bon Accord Silver Band.

The Lord Provost of Aberdeen Barney Crockett said “The people of Aberdeen are strong supporters of our armed forces and we will join as a community to mark the centenary of the end of the Great War and remember the sacrifices made on our behalf.

“These acts of commemoration are but a small way for us to remember the loss of life one hundred years ago in a 'war to end all wars. We remember all of those who have given their lives, and those who have been injured physically and mentally by conflict.”

The Kirk of St Nicholas Uniting, Aberdeen is holding a week of Remembrance events which will launch with a dedication service on Sunday 4th November at 12.00 honouring the men who went to war and did not return.

The Kirk has been awarded 10 seated military figures silhouettes funded by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, which forms part of a nationwide installation for the Fallen called “There But Not There”. A number of local organisations have also donated silhouettes, which are seated in pews in the West Kirk.

The Lord provost, who is also Aberdeen’s Armed Forces champion, purchased a six-foot aluminium ‘Tommy’ sculpture to remember the Fallen, which can be seen in the Kirk of St Nicholas Uniting kirkyard from Sunday 4th September

Remembrance crosses with names that are listed on First World War memorials within the Kirk will also be placed in the Kirkyard and the Kirk will periodically be open to visitors to allow viewings of the silhouettes and the war memorials through the kirk during the week of 5th – 11th November.

At 5pm on Sunday 4th November there will be a community concert in aid of PoppyScotland, featuring performances by local musicians Paul Anderson, Yvonne Thomson, Kyle McCallum and the ACE Voices choir. Members of the Armed Forces community, veterans, and the general public are all warmly invited to attend.

The University of Aberdeen is hosting an evening of poetry, readings and music on the 2nd November and will feature performances from John Bett, Professor Steve Heys, Fiona Kennedy OBE, Professor Paul Mealor and the University of Aberdeen Chapel Choir, as well as the pipes and drums of the University's OTC.

The following road closures will be in place from 10am until 12noon on Sunday 11 November:

Schoolhill will be closed between Back Wynd and Blackfriars Street (please note, there will be no access to Harriett Street car park. Parking for the Bon Accord Centre is available at the Loch Street car park). Blackfriars Street Belmont Street, Little Belmont Street, Gaelic Lane Denburn Viaduct between Union Terrace and Blackfriars Street

Broad Street and Upperkirkgate will be closed for a short period at 10.30am to allow the civic procession to make their way from the Town House to the War Memorial on Schoolhill.

Further information can be found at https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/services/leisure-culture-and-parks/events-and-tourism/events-aberdeen/remembrance-sunday-memorial

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

Aberdeen City Council has donated £10,000 to Poppy Scotland – the only local authority to do so.

Artwork

The Lord Provost of Aberdeen has also bought an artwork. The ‘Tommy’ (https://shop.therebutnotthere.org.uk/collections/all-products/products/lifesizetommy) will be displayed in St Nicholas church yard, along with a display of wooden crossed, in conjunction with the church. That will be on display from 4th November. The church also have a display inside the church with silhouettes (https://shop.therebutnotthere.org.uk/collections/all-products/products/silhouette-for-pews) and intend on having the church open during the week. (details below).

Civic Reception

To mark the Walking with Heroes Centenary tour by the Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, a civic reception was held in the Town & County Hall on Friday 28 September.