Annual Remembrance service moved to make way for works

THE annual service of Remembrance in Birmingham is to go ahead – despite the closure of its regular home in Centenary Square.

A £10 million scheme to remodel the square began in June and is expected to take a year to complete.

The Hall of Memory is currently surrounded by an eight-foot hoarding.

The work has turned the rest of the square into a building site, knocking out Christmas family attractions including the big wheel, ice rink and craft market.

But the Remembrance service has been saved by moving it to Victoria Square. It will be held on Sunday, November 12 – the last free weekend before the arrival of the annual German Market Birmingham.

Birmingham City Council said: “The Parade will include detachments from ex-Service, Regular, Reserve, Cadet units and representatives of other local uniformed organisations marching on from Colmore Row at 10.35am.

“Members of the public are encouraged to attend and pay tribute to the men and women of our Armed Forces who lost their lives in service.

“An order of service is still finalised.”

The Hall of Memory opened in 1925 after three years’ work to commemorate 12,320 lives lost during the First World War. The now grade I-listed octagonal hall with domed roof was constructed from Portland Stone and funded by public donations.

Its inscriptions on panels include: “Of the 150,000 who answered the call to arms 12,320 fell: 35,000 came home disabled: at the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them: see to it that they shall not have suffered and died in vain.” being