Park memorial service for community

Everyone from war veterans to school children will mark Remembrance Sunday in Dudley this weekend with a series of events being held throughout the borough.

Following the success of a remembrance event in Grazebrook Park last year, organisers are holding a pre-service in the park that will finish in time for people to attend the main service in the town centre. Councillor Shaukat Ali, who represents the St Thomas Ward, is among those who have helped to organise the community memorial service at the park.

"We first had the idea to hold a memorial service last year when the park was in need of repair," he said.

"Last year we had graffiti cleaned off the memorial monument there and we cleaned up the park in preparation and around 100 people turned up.

"It was such a success, we have decided to go for it again and I'm pleased to say that we have not had to clear up any more graffiti since – people have shown a lot of respect for the site."

The community memorial service will begin at 9.30am on Sunday and Councillor Ali is hopeful of a good turn out.

"We want it to be bigger and better than last year," he said.

Pastor Jeremy Parkes, of the Living Hope Church in Dudley, will lead the service which is due to be attended by Friends of Buffery Park and MP Ian Austin.

The Dudley town centre parade leaves Vicar Street at 10.30am, making its way along Stone Street and Priory Street before going along Priory Road and stopping at the cenotaph in Coronation Gardens.

A service will then take place at the memorial at 10.50am. The Lower Gornal branch of the Royal British Legion (RBL) will also mark the day with a morning parade through the village.

Everyone is welcome to attend the event which leaves Ruiton Street at 10am and will finish for refreshments in St James' Memorial Hall in the village.

An evening church service will take place at St James' Church at 7pm when the standard will be returned to the church.

"This parade has been going on since just after the war ended," said Councillor Ken Finch, who has helped organise the parade.

"We are a small team of people at the Lower Gornal RBL but we work very hard collecting money for poppies to send as part of the appeal."