Veterans joined the Mayor of Mansfield, Andy Abrahams, Mansfield District councillors, to launch Mansfield’s Poppy Appeal.

Poppy Appeal organiser Mick Beresford and Joe Martin, from the Mansfield branch of the Royal British Legion (RBL), also attended.

Every poppy sold will help the Legion support bereaved families, wounded Servicemen and women, younger veterans seeking employment and housing and older veterans needing age-related care.

Over the last two years, the council has encouraged local knitters to provide handmade poppies to decorate the Old Town Hall. This year dedicated supporters have donated a thousand more poppies to create garlands and wreaths to be displayed around Mansfield town centre next weekend ahead of the popular Remembrance Day Parade.

The parade on Sunday, 10th November will start with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Civic Centre war memorial at 10am before heading to St Peter and St Paul’s Church for a memorial service at 10.55am. The parade route will go down Chesterfield Road South and on to West Gate, across Church Street and to the church.

After the church service, there will be a military salute in the Market Place in front of the knitted poppy display on the Old Town Hall at about noon before the parade returns to the Civic Centre.

Road closures will be in place from 10am to noon along the main route affecting Chesterfield Road South whilst the parade passes through the town centre. This year the parade route will change slightly. On leaving the Civic Centre, the parade will turn right and head towards Mansfield Magistrates’ Court before turning left at Westield Lane. The parade will then turn right at the Feather statue and continue on to West Gate, through the town centre and on to Church Street, ending at St Peter and St Paul’s church.

The change has been made to reduce disruption to the town centre and allow traffic to flow along the outer ring road. Once the parade has passed safely, road closures will be lifted with the exception of a full closure on Church Street/Toothill Lane junction and Church Street/White Hart Street junction to allow a safe space for the parade and members of the public to take part in the event.

The Mayor said: “I am so very pleased to support the Royal British Legion and to rally support from Mansfield people to give generously to the annual Poppy Appeal. The town will be full of handmade decorations again this year, demonstrating the love and respect local people have for our fallen heroes. I shall wear my poppy with pride.”

Other Remembrance events in the district include:

Sunday 10 November

Warsop:
Warsop, Meden Vale and District branch of the RBL, parade from the Warsop Ex-Servicemen’s Club in Carr Lane at 10.20am to the Warsop War Memorial at The Carrs for a service and wreath-laying ceremony at 10.50am.

Forest Town:
Remembrance Day parade organised by the Royal British Legion Clipstone and Forest Town Branch at 10:15am from Forest Town Arena, Clipstone Road West, to St Alban’s Church where wreaths will be laid followed by a service.

Clipstone:
At 9.30am from the Cricket Pavilion, to All Saints’ Church, for a service followed by wreath-laying ceremony at the war memorial.

Mansfield Woodhouse:
Remembrance Day parade at 10.20am from Yeoman Hill Park to Welbeck Road, Portland Street, High Street and Church Street. The parade with gather at the Cenotaph for wreath laying and two minutes’ silence before entering St. Edmund’s Church for the service.

Bellamy Road, Mansfield:
Mansfield Bellamy branch of the RBL are holding a service at the Life Church South Mansfield at South Mansfield Community Centre, Bellamy Road, at 10.30am.

Monday, 11 November

Warsop, Meden Vale and District branch of the RBL:
Service at the Warsop Vale Cenotaph, West Street at 10.45am and wreath laying.