A Suffolk village will honour its fallen during World War One following restoration of its war memorial and the installation of a new commemorative beacon.
Long Melford’s annual Remembrance Day parade and service takes place on Sunday, November 11, and the village will pay tribute to the 150 men and women who lost their lives in the conflict.
Long Melford Parish Council has undertaken the restoration of the village’s memorial outside Holy Trinity Church in readiness for the centenary of the armistice.
A seven metre tall commemorative beacon has also been installed on the village green, which will be lit for the first time by Lady Jean Hyde Parker on November 11.
John Nunn, parish and district councillor, proposed the idea of the village entering into the WW1 Battles Over project to have memorial beacons installed around the country to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War.
Mr Nunn said: “The parish council voted on and agreed to enter the village into the WW1 Battles Over commemorations as a permanent reminder of all the men and women from Long Melford who made the ultimate sacrifice in the Great War.
“Quotes were sought for the construction of the iron work and local tradesman Robert Clubb of Suffolk Fabrications was commissioned to make the steel fire basket for the memorial beacon.
“After talks with the Hyde Parker family a site on the top green was agreed for the beacon, and it is now in place and standing some seven meters tall is yet another feature for the village.”
The Long Melford Remembrance Day parade will begin at 10.00am at Chemist Lane opposite the Bull Hotel.
This year’s parade will be led by the award-winning band of 295 Squadron Witham and Rivenhall air cadets, with Sudbury Army Cadet Force and Sudbury Air Training Corps, representatives from USAF Lakenheath, and many other local organisations taking part.
The parade will also include the Webb families World War One Locomobile lorry “Vincent”, which is one of very few left in existence.
The Reverend Matthew Lawson has also arranged a service around the beacon on Sunday, November 11, starting at 6.30pm and the beacon will be lit at 7pm. The Last Post will be sounded, the Holy Trinity Church bells will be rung and Long Melford Silver Band will provide the music.
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