Left to right: Alan Ribchester, Lieutenant Colonel Barney Barnbrook, Kenneth Howe,
Dave Cuthbertson, and Eric Bulmer
The traditional Sunday morning parade through the city, which follows a service in the cathedral, is one of the biggest in the region. It will include regular soldiers and reservists, supported by three bands and 18 fire brigade standard bearers from across Scotland, England and Wales, as well as representatives of other emergency services.
The previous evening a moving two-hour Festival of Remembrance, organized by the Army Benevolent Fund – celebrating its 80th anniversary - is expected to attract a 600-strong congregation against the inspiring backdrop of the cathedral.
To help meet costs the parade treasurer, Dave Cuthbertson, was presented with a £1,000 gift from the Freemen while, at the same time, a matching donation was handed to Lieutenant Colonel Barney Barnbrook, the Catterick-based Regional Director of the fund’s North East and Yorkshire Branch.
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Mr. Lockyear, deputy warden of the Freemen’s Plumbers’ Company, spent more than 30 years supporting and developing the Sunderland’s Parade and was awarded an MBE in 2010. For the last decade, he has committed himself to expanding the Durham City march.
Service personnel on parade this year include members of the 4th Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland, the Light Dragoons, the Royal Army Medical Corps, the Royal Military Police, 8th Battalion, The Rifles and 608 Royal Auxiliary Air Force (Durham’s Own).
A V.I.P reception precedes Saturday’s Festival of Remembrance which starts at 7.30 p.m. and focuses on the 80th anniversary of D-Day and Arnhem featuring an emotional mix of music and the spoken word. Among those taking part are the Band of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, Tyne Electrical Engineers Association of Pipes and Drums, the Military WAGS Choir from Catterick and northern soprano Charlotte Potter.
The service ends with Muster and two-minute silence during which thousands of poppy petals will silently fall on the congregation.
Colonel Barnbrook said while it was both a great responsibility to organise the Festival of Remembrance each year its was also a great privilege.
“As a region and as a country we have a duty to remember those who gave their all in the defence of our nation. Events in Durham over the Remembrance Weekend offer local communities an appropriate and fitting way to commemorate such great sacrifice. We are extremely grateful to the freemen and our other local sponsors for their support in making the festival possible,” he added.
Charitable Trust chairman Eric Bulmer said: “We are pleased once gain to support the Remembrance Parade and also, for the first time, to make a donation to the Festival of Remembrance, which supports the Army Benevolent Fund. The people of Durham take great pride from both events and it is a privilege to make this contribution on their behalf.”
Tickets for the Festival of Remembrance are available through the cathedral’s box office.