BOLTON will be marking the centenary of the end of the First World War with a number of events and ceremonies on Novemeber 11 and in the run-up to the day itself.

Some of the main ones are detailed below, but others will be held at townships across the borough.

- OCTOBER 31: A “Cenotaph” created by sculptor Philip Wharton will go on temporary display in Bolton Parish Church.

Poppies will continue to be added daily to the church’s Cross of Poppies. This began 100 days before the centenary of the Armistice.

The church will also have a “Fall of Poppies” – camouflage netting draped from the wall inserted with 82 poppies, one to mark each of the 82 names recorded on the church war memorial. Memorials from St george’s Chuirch, Holy Trinity Church and the 2nd Vth Loyal North Lancashire Regiment will also be on display.

  • NOVEMBER 4: A 10.30 morning service at Bolton Parish Church where the Royal Artillery Association will observe an act of Remembrance and wreath laying.
  • Bolton United Services Veterans association will also be holding a ceremony of dedication of its new standard and the laying-up of its old standard.
  • NOVEMBER 10: The Mayor’s Charity Remembrance Concert in aid of Bolton’s cadet forces at The Albert Halls. Entertainment will include performances by the Royal Artillery Volunteer Band, Tonge with Haulgh Choir, Seven Saints Amateur Theatre Group.
  • On the same date, Bolton Wanderers players will wear poppies as they come on for their match against Swansea City. A silhouette sculpture of a fallen soldier will be on display in the stands and the referee will toss a special Royal British Legion commemorative coin.
  • NOVEMBER 11: At midnight on August 4, 2014, a lantern was extinguished in Bolton Parish Church to symbolise the start of the First World War. This lantern will be re-lit at 9.15am and then processed by the Vicar of Bolton and the Mayor of Bolton to be laid on the War memorial.

The Remembrance will start at 10.45am and will be led by the Vicar of Bolton, Rev Canon Dr Chris Bracegirdle. He will be supported by the Caledonian Pipe Band, the Hoover Band as well as veterans, cadets and serving members of the armed forces.

The service will include a two minutes silence, which will be marked by loud gun fire. At the end of the service, members of the public will be invited – for the first time - to take part in a guided “walk past” of the war memorial.

  • Later on Remembrance Sunday, the public are again invited to meet in Victoria Square to witness the lighting of the Remembrance Beacon.

Crowds will gather from 6.30pm for the lighting ceremony which will take place at 7pm, in line with the 100th Anniversary of Remembrance National Beacon Lighting taking place across the UK. With rest of the country, Bolton will be ringing its bells at 7.05pm.