Apology over Stafford Remembrance service mix-up
Council bosses have apologised for a Remembrance Sunday mix-up – after hundreds of people went to the wrong location to pay their respects on Armistice Day.
Stafford Borough Council advertised an open-air service in Market Square as part of commemorations to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War.
It is claimed hundreds of people gathered there from 10am on Sunday ahead of the advertised service at 10.15am.
But it was actually being staged in nearby Victoria Square at the borough war memorial.
Stafford resident John Morris complained to the council after falling victim to the local authority’s mistake.
He said: “The council’s website said there was an open-air service from 10.15am in Market Square and hundreds of people were gathered from 10am.
“The only event in Market Square was the march-past much later. Can someone explain why the website was so wrong?”
Sarah Preston on Twitter said: "So what happened to the 10:15 service in the market square. The council should be ashamed of such a shambles."
Scott West added: "Very poor, many people turned up in Market Square for this. Someone blowing a whistle at the start and end of the 2 minutes silence would have been enough but there wasn't even that."
Opposition Labour councillor Rowan Draper has also contacted the council over the issue.
He said: “I’m disappointed to hear that members of the public weren’t able to commemorate Remembrance. However, it was a fantastic turnout and shows what people in Stafford town and borough feel about the sacrifice and contribution members of the Armed Forces have made.”
The council has said sorry for the mix-up – and pledged to reply personally to anyone who has emailed them about the issue.
A statement says: “We are extremely sorry that the wrong information for the Remembrance Day service was listed on the calendar of our website.
“The crowds lining the town centre to welcome the parade and see the salute taken in Market Square were exceptional.
“But, as the organisers of the event, we are responsible for the information on our website and we sincerely apologise to those who went to Market Square early, and not the borough war memorial, because of it.”
By Kerry Ashdown
Local Democracy Reporter
