FREE bus rides will be offered to armed forces veterans across Greater Manchester this week in order to ensure everyone has the opportunity to celebrate Remembrance Day events
Bus operator First Manchester is offering free travel across its entire network for commemorative events, including the Vantage service operated on the guided busway from Leigh and Atherton to Manchester Royal Infirmary.
This includes events on Thursday, November 11 and Remembrance Sunday at the end of the week, with a Manchester city centre parade to the war memorial in St Peter's square one of the larger events offered to residents across thr region to remember the fallen.
In the borough, there are a handful of commemorative events planned, such as parades and wreath laying.
Events in Leigh:
- Parade participants are invited to gather at Leigh Pentecostal Church, Ullswater Street, Leigh at 10.15am.
- The parade route includes Ullswater Street, Railway Road, Market Street, Lord Street, Charles Street, Church Street, Vernon Street, Union Street, Bradshawgate and St Mary’s Way.
- A service will then follow at the Cenotaph in Church Street Gardens
- The deputy mayor Councillor Marie Morgan will lay the wreath on behalf of the council.
- A salute will be taken on the Town Hall Square when the parade passes along Market Street.
Wigan
- A procession will leave Wigan Town Hall at 10.30am and proceed along Library Street, Rodney Street, King Street, Wallgate, King Street West and Crawford Street and through to the Memorial.
- The Mayor will attend a Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the War Memorial in All Saints Gardens at 11am.
- A interdenominational service will take place at Wigan Parish Church following this.
- Following the service, the parade reassembles at the rear of the Parish Church and the Mayor takes the salute from the saluting base on Market Street.
Wreath laying ceremonies will also take place at war memorials across the borough including Abram, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Aspull, Atherton, Golborne, Hindley, Ince, Lowton, Platt Bridge, Shevington, Standish, Tyldesley
Residents are encouraged to attend the region's events this week, which are expected to be particularly more poignant after the last 18 months; with the pandemic predominantly affecting the older generation.
Any serving or veteran Armed Forces personnel or cadets can travel to these commemorative events for free by ll current and former military personnel need to do is wear their uniform or medals, or show their military ID card when boarding the bus.
Ian Humphreys, Managing Director of First Manchester, said: "Remembrance Day is an important occasion for many people who want to remember family, friends and others who have been lost in all conflicts, both service men and women and civilians.
"With this offer we want to make it as easy as possible for current and former serving forces to attend special events taking place in our region.
“Many of our employees, from drivers, engineers, operations and office support have served in the military or have friends and family members who are former or active members of the Armed Forces, so this time of year is particularly poignant across our sites in Oldham and Bolton.”
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