Leeds public to unite for today's remembrance service

The Bishop of Leeds, Nick Baines, will lead the Remembrance Sunday service in Leeds city centre.

Tributes will be led during a city centre service at the war memorial in Victoria Gardens by the Bishop of Leeds, Reverend Nick Baines.

The proceeding will be broadcast on two big screens around the war memorial to allow all observers to follow the proceedings.

Former service men and women, plus members of ex-service organisations and current serving military organisations, will gather outside Leeds City Museum before marching to the war memorial at 10.30am.

The services will be held at the Victoria Gardens war memorial. Both former and current service personnel will be involved in a march to the memorial which will leave Leeds City Museum at 10.30am.

They will be followed at 10.50am by a procession from Leeds Civic Hall featuring the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Gerry Harper, the High Sheriff of West Yorkshire, Chris Brown, and the leader of Leeds Council, Councillor Judith Blake.

The Lord Mayor and other local dignitaries will each lay a wreath during the service.

Coun Harper invited the people of Leeds to come together and join him for what will be poignant moments of reflection.

“The huge sacrifices which have been made by so many of our armed forces men and women in times of conflict should never be forgotten,” the Lord Mayor said.

“The service which we hold each year on Remembrance Sunday at the war memorial on Victoria Gardens is always extremely emotional and I look forward to welcoming the public on the day as we remember and pay tribute to all those who have lost their lives while serving in our armed forces.”

A separate service for Armistice Day was held at the same memorial on Friday. Ahead of this years’ services, a poppy themed garden seat bench was temporarily installed alongside the war memorial as a symbolic gesture to those who have given their lives in service to the country.