A parade was held to commemorate the Battle of Britain in St Helens town centre last Sunday with The Veterans of The Foundation in attendance
This year marks the 81st Anniversary of The Battle of Britain, the first decisive battle in history fought entirely in the air. Battle of Britain Sunday commemorated a dramatic turning point in both the battle itself and the history of the Second World War.
The St Helens branch of the Royal Air Forces Association held the event last weekend in honour of those involved in the 1940 battle.
The parade formed up outside the former St Helens Star office on Hardshaw Street at 2.15 pm and veterans marched to the Parish church, Church Square where a service of commemoration was held at 3pm.
The mayor, Cllr Sue Murphy, and members of the council was in attendance.
Once the service ended the veterans formed up at the back of the church and paraded around to the front where the mayor took the salute.
All forces veterans were invited to join in our commemoration of this historic and epic battle that played an important role in the country’s Second World War efforts.
The timetable for the parade was as follows:
- 2 – 2.15pm Parade formed up on Hardshaw St. ( just in front of Century House)
- 2.30pm Parade marched to Parish Church
- 3pm Service of Commemoration
- 4pm Parade formed up at the rear of the church and paraded around to front for the salute, taken by the Mayor
- 4.15pm Parade dismissed outside Barclays Bank on Church Street.
All veterans were invited to the Turks Head pub, on Cooper Street for a buffet kindly provided by landlord Daryl Arrowsmith.
