Shrewsbury to host Poppy appeal collection day as part of remembrance commemorations

Ahead of Remembrance Sunday Shrewsbury will be hosting a special one-day Poppy Appeal.

The event takes place to raise funds for the Royal British Legion on Wednesday, November 4, when serving military personnel will take to the town centre to collect donations for the appeal.

The dedicated fundraising day will be followed by the town’s Remembrance Sunday commemorations on Sunday, November 8, and a two-minute silence in The Square on Armistice Day, Wednesday, November 11.

Ahead of the fundraising Shrewsbury Town Council said it expects around 200 members of the armed forces to be in and around the town centre on Wednesday, November 4.

The main collection period will run from 10am to 3pm.

The event is jointly organised by Shropshire Council and the Royal British Legion, with support from a range of organisations, including military units and charities.

Its primary purpose is to raise funds for the appeal, which supports serving and ex-serving members of the Armed Forces community and their families.

The event has previously raised thousands of pounds for the appeal. In 2023, street collections during Shrewsbury’s one-day Poppy Appeal event raised £7,213.96.

In The Square, visitors will be able to see the Royal British Legion Bikers and enjoy music from Shrewsbury Brass Band, alongside a number of gazebos.

Vintage military vehicles will also be on display in The Quarry.

For Remembrance Sunday on November 8 the Mayor of Shrewsbury, Councillor Bernie Bentick, will lead the town’s commemorations, paying tribute to those who gave their lives in service to the country during two world wars and subsequent conflicts.

The mayor will lead a civic procession from Shrewsbury Castle at 10.30am, accompanied by units of His Majesty’s Armed Forces, veterans, local councillors, former mayors, magistrates and representatives of service and civilian organisations.

The procession will be led by the Bligny Band and Bugles of the Shropshire Army Cadet Force, following a route through Castle Gates, Castle Street, Pride Hill, Mardol Head and St John’s Hill before arriving at the War Memorial in The Quarry.

A memorial service will begin at 10.50am, featuring the sounding of the Last Post, followed by a two-minute silence and the Reveille.

Wreaths will then be laid in remembrance of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Following the service, the mayoral party will proceed to the saluting dais, which will be in a new location on Gloucester Avenue within The Quarry.

Residents are invited to watch the march as it continues through the park towards Victoria Avenue.

Councillor Bentick, said: “Remembrance Sunday is an important opportunity for our community to come together and honour the courage and sacrifice of all those who have served our country.

“We must never take the freedoms we enjoy for granted. As we remember those who lost their lives in past conflicts, we must also recognise the serving personnel, veterans and families who continue to be affected by conflict today.

“I encourage residents to join us in Shrewsbury as we pay our respects and ensure that the sacrifices of previous generations are never forgotten.”

Rolling road closures will be in effect from 9.30am to 12.30pm.

Roads affected include Castle Street, Pride Hill, Shoplatch, St John’s Hill and St Chad’s Terrace, with closures timed to allow the parade to pass safely.

St Chad’s Terrace will remain closed for a longer period to accommodate the parade.

Additionally, regular weekend town centre road closures on Wyle Cop (uphill), High Street and Shoplatch will be suspended until the conclusion of the event at approximately midday.

For those unable to attend in person, the town council says it will live-stream the proceedings, with the link available on the council’s website and social media channels.

For Armistice Day on Wednesday, November 11, the mayor will join representatives of the Royal British Legion for a two-minute silence in The Square at 11am.

Members of the public are invited to join the commemoration and observe the two-minute silence.