Stafford’s annual Battle of Britain commemoration will take place this Sunday, with members of the public invited to attend the wreath-laying ceremony at the Borough War Memorial.
The event on Sunday 13 September will include a civic church service at the Collegiate Church of St Mary followed by prayers and wreath laying at Victoria Square. The yearly commemoration remembers those who served during the Battle of Britain and provides an opportunity for the town, civic representatives, the RAF community and veterans’ organisations to pay their respects.
The civic party is due to leave Stafford Civic Centre at around 11.45am before processing through the town centre to St Mary’s Church. The service will begin at noon and will include hymns, readings and the National Anthem, with lessons read by Wing Commander Steve Bloomer and Stafford Mayor Councillor Mark Winnington.
Wreath laying open to the public
Following the church service, uniformed personnel and the civic party will gather at the Borough War Memorial in Victoria Square, with the wreath-laying ceremony expected to begin at around 12.50pm.
Members of the public are welcome to attend this part of the annual commemoration and watch as wreaths are laid in memory of those who served and lost their lives.
Prayers will be led by Reverend Wing Commander David Skillen, Senior Chaplain at RAF Cosford, before wreaths are placed at the memorial by civic, military and veterans’ representatives.
Civic and RAF representatives attending
Among those expected to attend are Stafford Mayor Councillor Mark Winnington and Mayoress Rosie Winnington, Deputy Lieutenant of Staffordshire Colonel Toby Gaddum and High Sheriff of Staffordshire Pritpal Singh Nagi MBE DL.
Air Vice Marshal Nigel Bairsto, President of the Central Area of the Royal Air Forces Association, is also due to attend alongside Wing Commander Steve Bloomer from Tactical Supply Wing at MoD Stafford.
Other representatives listed in the programme include Stafford MP Leigh Ingham, the Chairman of Staffordshire County Council, Stafford branch of the Royal Air Forces Association, the Royal British Legion, RAF Servicing Commandos and Tactical Supply Wing Association, RAF Cadets and other ex-service organisations.
The Mayor, Deputy Lieutenant, High Sheriff, RAF representatives, Staffordshire County Council and Stafford’s MP are among those scheduled to lay wreaths before other organisations are invited forward.
After the ceremony, the civic party will return through Stafford town centre to the Civic Centre. There is no parade through the high street.
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