Oldham salutes fallen soldiers on Remembrance Sunday

There were several memorial services held across the borough today for Remembrance Sunday (November 10) ahead of Remembrance Day tomorrow (November 11), which marks the day the First World War ended.

There was a triumphant welcome for the military personnel followed by a respectful silence (Image: NQ, Olivia Bridge)

While paying homage to those who died in both the two world wars, Remembrance Sunday also honours the heroes who have died in the line of duty in other conflicts since.

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Serving military from land, air and sea marched through Oldham (Image: NQ, Olivia Bridge)

The touching tribute started just before 11am with a procession of ex-service and military personnel who had assembled on New Radcliffe Street to march through the town centre to the drum of a band.

As 'When the Saints Go Marching In' played out, the personnel was brought to attention as they gathered by the Oldham War Memorial.

Residents wore their poppies proudly (Image: NQ, Olivia Bridge)

A call to remembrance was then read by Reverend Canon Jean Hurlston who spoke about gathering for "reconciliation between the nations, that people may together live in freedom, justice and peace".

The Revd urged a prayer "for all who in bereavement, disability and pain continue to suffer the consequences of fighting and terror" and to remember those whose lives in world wars and conflicts "past and present have been given and taken away".

The Mayor of Oldham and Jim McMahon MP were some of the first to lay wreaths (Image: NQ, Olivia Bridge)

An exhortation was then read by the Mayor of Oldham, Councillor Zahid Chauhan, as Oldhamers gathered in the town centre echoed: "We will remember them".

A silence then fell as Oldhamers huddled in the cold.

A young cadet and other members of the public paid their respects to the memorial (Image: NQ, Olivia Bridge)

After the two-minute silence, a cadet read the Kohima Epitaph and another prayer was read out by the Revd.

Dignitaries and representatives of local units from His Majesty's Forces and ex-service organisations then laud poppy wreaths at the foot of the memorial.

The many wreaths that were laid by the foot of the memorial (Image: NQ, Olivia Bridge)

This included the Mayor, the Lord Lieutenant's Deputy, Glyn Potts MBE, Greater Manchester Police Oldham Divisional Commander, Chief Superintendent Phil Hutchinson, leader of Oldham Council, Arooj Shah and council chief executive, Harry Catherall.

Others who laid wreaths include Frank Rothwell, owner of Oldham Athletic, and the honorary freeman and honorary alderman of the borough, deputy lieutenants, Youth Mayor, Isaac Quinn, members of the judiciary, MPs Jim McMahon and Lucy Powell, other parties within Oldham Council and other organisations such as Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service and Mahdlo Youth Zone amongst others.

Frank Rothwell also paid his respects with a wreath and sported an Oldham Athletic hat (Image: NQ, Olivia Bridge)

Oldhamers gathered around the cobbled path leading to the memorial and dozens more gathered in the square by the Annie Kenney statue to join in song as hymns and prayers were read out by Revd David Ireland, Father Phil Sumner and a blessing by Revd Canon Daniel Burton.

The rain didn't dampen spirits either as people sang the national anthem in unison to 'God Save the King'.

The final procession through town to salute the Mayor and Lieutenant's Deputy (Image: NQ, Olivia Bridge)

To the march of a brass band one final time, branches of the Royal British Legion, uniformed services and representatives of land, air and sea cadets paraded through the town to salute the Mayor and the Lord Lieutenant's Deputy.

Got a story? Email me Olivia.bridge@newsquest.co.uk