THE MAYOR of Barnsley will lead remembrance commemorations over the weekend to honour members of the armed forces who made the ulitmate sacrifice with their lives.

Commemorations will begin tomorrow at 11am when the mayor Coun Jeff Ennis will observe Armistice Day by leading a one minute silence at the war memorial on Church Street, outside Barnsley Town Hall.

As the nation unites for Remembrance Sunday, when the national observance will take place at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, Coun Ennis will lead a local service of remembrance at the outside the town hall at 11am.

The service will begin with the mayor leading a civic party procession out of the town hall shortly before 11am in time to observe the two minutes’ silence on the hour. The mayor will be joined by the leader of the council, chief executive, veterans and representatives from serving organisations, the emergency services and other local organisations.

After a bugler has marked the silence, the mayor will lead the laying of the poppy wreaths. Rev Canon Stephen Race, the area dean of Barnsley and priest in charge at St Mary’s Church, will then lead the service. Barnsley Metropolitan Band will accompany the hymns and national anthem.

Following the service, the mayor will take the salute as representatives from local serving organisations including veterans, cadets, St John Ambulance Brigade and scouts take part in a parade to march past the town hall.

Commemorations will conclude on Monday when the mayor, accompanied by members of the Royal British Legion, will welcome students from Barnsley College and more than 150 pupils from Summer Lane Primary school to mark a one minute silence at 11am. The children will be invited to lay their own handmade poppy wreaths, learning why they are laid and their significance.