Remembrance Sunday 2021 in Manchester: when it is, local events and road closures

Manchester will fall silent to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice on Remembrance Sunday.

There will be a parade through the city centre to the war memorial in St Peter’s Square where dignitaries and veterans will be among those paying their respects.

Remembrance events will also be taking place in communities across the city.

Here is what you need to know about the solemn events taking place on 14 November and why Remembrance Sunday is being commemorated.

How is Manchester city centre marking Remembrance Sunday?

The city centre commemorations begin at around 10.25am when the procession begins on John Dalton Street.

It will make its way through the city centre to the large war memorial in St Peter’s Square.

There civic dignitaries, servicemen and women, service and ex-service organisations, faith leaders and uniformed organisations will be invited to pay their respects.

At 11am there will be a two-minute silence, with the start and finish will be marked by the firing of a 105mm gun.

Wreaths will then be laid on the Cenotaph by the Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, the Lord Mayor of Manchester, the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, Reserve Forces represented by the 103rd (Lancashire Artillery Volunteers) Regiment Royal Artillery, The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, 207 (Manchester) Field Hospital (Volunteers), Royal British Legion, Manchester Consular Association, Greater Manchester Police, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service and Young Faith Representatives. The parade will then proceed to Central Library for the March Past, which will be followed by the national anthem. After the parade has left the war memorial in St Peter’s Square, the barriers will be removed so the public can place their tributes.

Anyone who is unable to join the commemorations in the city centre can watch online as the event will be livestreamed on Vimeo.

Which roads will be closed for the procession?

A number of city centre roads will be shut between 7am and 1pm for the procession.

These are: John Dalton Street (Deansgate to Cross Street), Princess Street (Cross Street to Portland Street), Cross Street (Princess Street to King Street), Peter Street (Deansgate to Oxford Street), Mount Street (Windmill Street to Peter Street), Museum Street (Windmill Street to Peter Street), Bootle Street (Southmill Street to Mount Street), Lloyd Street (Deansgate to Southmill Street) and Cooper Street (Kennedy Street to Princess Street).

The one-way route on Watson Street will also be reversed.

Parking will be suspended on the roads being shut from 6am.

Anyone needing more information can visit Manchester City Council’s website.

Where else is Remembrance Sunday being commemorated?

Communities across Greater Manchester will be coming together to remember those who have died in war.

These include in Kearsley where a march will set off from the cricket club, led by Kearsley Youth Brass Band, at 9.30am.

There will then be the laying of wreaths, a two-minute silence and prayers at the war memorial on Manchester Road.

The procession will then continue to Kearsley Mount Methodist Church for a short service beginning at around 10.15am and concluding with another two-minute silence at 11am.

Services will also be held on Sunday at Gorton Cemetery and St Peter’s Church in Levenshulme.

And the Urmston remembrance parade sets off from Urmston library at 10.30am with a service at 10.50am.

In Saddleworth a traditional Remembrance Sunday event will take place in Uppermill with walkers trekking up a hill to the Pots and Pans Memorial for a service and music by the Dobcross Brass Monkeys.

Residents will also gather for commemorations at war memorials across Greater Manchester.

Are people being urged to take part in Remembrance Sunday events?

Residents are being encouraged to take part in this year’s Remembrance Sunday commemorations and take some time to think of those who fell in battle for their country.

People are also being urged to support the Poppy Appeal run by the Royal British Legion (RBL) with volunteers once again taking to the streets to raise vital funds for the armed forces community.

The Lord Mayor of Manchester, Coun Tommy Judge, said: “At the service we will pay tribute to those who have died protecting our country and reflect on past and present conflicts.

“After cancelling last year’s ceremony due to Covid restrictions, it’s important that the people of Manchester come together to show our combined appreciation for the armed forces.

“It will be an honour to mark this solemn day with the people of Manchester.”

Manchester Gorton MP Afzal Khan said: “Just as they were over a century ago, our armed forces have shown this year just how indispensable they are to the nation’s security, from airlifting British nationals out of Afghanistan, to driving NHS ambulances.

“During Remembrance, we honour and remember the sacrifices made by Manchester Gorton service men and service women, veterans and their families, past and present.

“It’s vital we recognise their heroic efforts, so I encourage Manchester Gorton residents to mark this year’s remembrance by doing their bit, whether that’s supporting the local poppy appeal, or passing on the understanding of its importance to the next generation.

“We must honour and remember their sacrifice.”

Are there other ways of showing support for veterans this year?

To mark the 100th anniversary of the RBL, a special Manchester centenary pin has been created in addition to the traditional paper poppy.

It combines the traditional flower of remembrance with the Manchester Bee, the symbol of the city, and volunteers from the Legion were out and about last week selling them for a suggested donation of £3.

Just 10,000 of the special bee pins have been made and the RBL was expecting them to sell out.

There was also live music in St Peter’s Square and Remembrance-themed decorations throughout prominent Manchester locations for Poppy Day on Wednesday (3 November).

The RBL hailed the generosity of the city’s residents in supporting its cause and urged as many people as possible to donate to the Poppy Appeal again this year.

It also said the 2021 collection is particularly important as the Covid-19 pandemic affected both its ability to raise money and the level of need among veterans.

The RBL’s community fund-raising manager Judith Reay said: “The support from the Manchester public is phenomenal – it’s always great to see so many people wearing their poppies with pride, knowing the money they donate will make a huge difference to the lives of so many people in our armed forces community.

“We are also making it easier than ever to donate this year by offering contactless donations at all of our collection points, or you can donate by text.

“This year, as we mark our centenary, every poppy counts, so getting back onto the streets of Manchester is vital.

“The impact of Covid-19 continues to leave some members of our armed forces community in urgent need of our help, and your support is as crucial as ever. Every donation makes a difference to their lives.”