THIS year the town’s Remembrance Parade will be taking place on Sunday, November 9 with a ceremony at the town’s war memorial in Victoria Square.

It is a particularly poignant year as the town marks the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War, and the parade will follow its traditional route through the town with members of the Royal British Legion starting out from the Community Hall on Heritage Way where they will be saluted by councillors and other civic leaders.

Anyone in Droitwich who wishes to remember the servicemen and women from the town who gave their lives in any conflict, should meet at the war memorial at 10.45am where the procession will conclude, and be followed by a short service of dedication for Private William H Goddard of 13th Batallion of the Royal Fusiliers, whose name is on the list of those who gave their lives in the service of their country.

Private Goddard, who died in 1918, was listed on the census in Droitwich for 1911, but unfortunately his name was missed off the original list of the dead and has only recently come to light, with his name being added to the memorial in time for this year’s Remembrance Parade.

After the dedication there will be a two-minute silence before the Last Post is played, and then there will be a number of prayers and several wreaths will be laid.

The parade will then move on to St Andrew’s Church in St Andrew’s Street where will be a service at 11.15am.

People are invited to come out and watch the parade as it moves through the town, and pay their respects.

This year also marks the final year that Neil Bourne will be acting as parade master for the town’s Remembrance Parade. Mr Bourne has been supporting the town’s Remembrance Day events for the past 15 years, and is moving on to take over as club president for the Droitwich Kudokan Judo club.