The MAYOR of Whitchurch, Councillor Tony Neville, has welcomed the placing of 'soldier silhouettes' around the town before the commemorations marking the 100th year since the end of the First World War on November 11.

Cllr Neville will join with Whitchurch Royal British Legion for its formal commemorations on Remembrance Sunday at 10am, holding a traditional wreath laying and the playing of the Last Post at the town’s cenotaph in Station Road.

This will be followed by a parade to St Alkmund’s Church where the service will begin at 11am with town dignitaries and representatives from both the Army and Air Cadets.

Cllr Tony Neville said: "The town council has received funding from the Armed Forces Covenant for “There But Not There” silhouettes, which will be placed in St Alkmund’s Church and at the Civic Centre lunch as a poignant reminder of those who were lost during wartime.

"Whitchurch Town Council thanks all the volunteers who have generously given their time helping the town council to organise this event and we look forward to seeing many people during the commemorative lunch, which will also have a celebratory feel.”

Following the various church services in Whitchurch everyone is welcome to attend an afternoon tea event featuring music from Whitchurch Town Band and Whitchurch Community Choir at the Civic Centre.

Light refreshments will be served and historical promotions is providing a trench installation with a soldier “actor” who will be talking about what life was like in the trenches, and the Civic Centre will host displays from various local groups as well as giant poppies from 12.30-2.30pm.

The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise by the nation ensuring that those who serve or who have served in the armed forces, and their families, are treated fairly.

A spokesperson from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust added: "Grants are made to support the Armed Forces Community.

"One of the ways that this is done is by funding projects that bring Armed Forces Communities and civilian communities together to learn more about each other, and to build stronger relationships in future.”

Rupert Hutchinson-Smith, chairman of the Whitchurch Branch of the Royal British Legion will officially launch the Whitchurch Poppy Appeal in town on Saturday, October 27.

He believes the work towards marking the anniversary of the Armistice in the right way has brought the community together.

Rupert said: “I have been overwhelmed with the support we have already received from Whitchurch and it has been wonderful working with various members of the community to mark such an important milestone.”

This commemoration has brought together many Whitchurch groups including the Whitchurch Branch of the Royal British Legion, Whitchurch Town Council, Whitchurch Rotary Club and Inner Wheel, Ladies Tangent, Whitchurch WI, Fairtrade, Town Twinning, St Alkmund’s Church, North Shropshire Masonic Rooms, Whitchurch Scouts & Guides, Blackberry Fair and many more.

Town centre manager Zoë Dean added: “The oversized lamppost poppies will be reappearing in and around the town centre this week which were very well received in the town last year."

n Armistice Day parades will take place through north Shropshire and in Malpas, with events taking place in Wem and Ellesmere.