Chesterfield prepares for First World War centenary
Chesterfield will mark the sacrifice of servicemen and women in a series of events to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War.
All the events have been organised by Chesterfield Borough Council in conjunction with the Royal British Legion and Chesterfield Combined Ex Services Association.
A cascade of poppies will be fixed to the balcony of Chesterfield Town Hall, Rose Hill, on the weekend of Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 November.
An appeal for knitted and crocheted poppies earlier this year saw more than three times the target of 15,000 provided by Chesterfield residents and people from all over the world to be used in making the cascade.
Councillor Steve Brunt, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “We have been overwhelmed by the number of knitted and crocheted poppies we have received for our poppy cascade – thanks to everyone who has provided them.
“This will be in place until after the remembrance service on 11 November and will provide a fitting backdrop for the commemorations.
“The remaining poppies are cascaded from the balcony of Chesterfield Market Hall and displayed in shops in the town centre so will provide a colourful trail through the whole town that we hope will attract a lot of visitors.”
Visitors to Chesterfield Museum can also see what life was like for a soldier on the Western Front in the exhibition The Trench Experience.
The exhibition in the museum’s art gallery is open until 12 January. The museum is open each Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10am to 4pm. Admission is free.
Chesterfield’s mayor, Councillor Stuart Brittain will also lay a wreath at every war memorial across the borough beginning in Staveley on Thursday 1 November.
The mayor will also plant a tree in Shentall Gardens to mark the anniversary on Tuesday 6 November at 2pm. Residents are invited to attend the tree planting and a short service of remembrance.
The civic remembrance service will take place as usual at St Mary and All Saints’ Church, the Crooked Spire, on Sunday 11 November at 2.30pm followed by the wreath laying at the war memorial, Rose Hill.
Find out more about remembrance events in Chesterfield
