As November, the annual season of Remembrance, draws close Rutland County Council, the Lord Lieutenant and the Royal British Legion are inviting residents to attend some events taking place throughout the county from the 11th – 13th of November 2022. 

 On Remembrance Day, Friday the 11th of November at 10.45am, there will be a short service of Remembrance, in the grounds of Oakham Castle. This will mark the day when the guns fell silent and the armistice was declared. This service will include a minute's silence at 11:00am. The service will be conducted by Reverend Brian McAvoy from the Royal British Legion, and representatives of local military units and veterans' organisations will be present. All members of the public are invited to attend.

At 7:30pm on Friday the 11th of November, in the Chapel of Uppingham School, Rutland's first 'Festival of Remembrance' will take place, organised by His Majesty's Lord Lieutenant of Rutland, Dr Sarah Furness.

This event will consist of a concert at 7:30pm, preceded by a reception in the School's Memorial Hall at 6:30pm. It will be a positive commemoration and celebration of those who have served and continue to serve for our country. It is particularly important to mark Remembrance in this fashion in Rutland, a county that has such a significant military presence.

In addition to our two army bases, we have military personnel living in Rutland who serve elsewhere, alongside reservists and very many veterans and military families. Rutland is almost unique as a county, in having at least 20% of its population affiliated with the military. All funds raised at this event will be donated to The Royal British Legion Poppy appeal. This is a ticketed event and tickets can be purchased for £25 through the Lord-Lieutenant's website. Tickets are free to those only attending the concert, with donations being accepted.

On Saturday the 12th of November, at 7:30pm in All Saints' Church, Oakham, Rutland Concert Band will present their annual 'Music for Remembrance', an event which has become something of a tradition in recent years and is a particularly poignant way to mark the evening before Remembrance Day itself. The concert feature a range of music with the central theme being Remembrance.

The programme will include extracts from two John Williams film scores, Hymn to The Fallen, from Saving Private Ryan, Dartmoor, 1912, from War Horse, and Nimrod, from Elgar's Enigma Variations. All proceeds will be donated to the Poppy Appeal and tickets can purchased on arrival.

On Sunday the 13th of November, The County Service of Remembrance will take place at 2:30pm in All Saints' Church, Oakham. Military Units from within the County and beyond will parade to the Church, from the Market Place, moving off at 1.55pm. The service will conclude with a Wreath Laying Ceremony, after which, the contingents on parade will march back to the Market Place, with The Lord Lieutenant taking the Salute on Oakham High Street.

All members of the public are warmly invited to attend the Service and should be seated in All Saints' Church by 2:15pm.

Lord-Lieutenant of Rutland, Dr Sarah Furness, said: "Remembering the sacrifices made for our freedoms means even more in Rutland. We are proud to be a military county with those who serve or have served and their families making up over 20% of our population. I hope as many people as possible across Rutland will join in our acts of remembrance."      

Rutland County Council's Armed Forces Champion, Cllr Paul Ainsley, said: "I'm pleased that we have such a variety of events to mark the season of Remembrance here in Rutland, a county which is home to so many military representatives who we are proud to say have fought for our country.  

"I hope that residents can attend our events and we can raise some funds for the extremely important Poppy Appeal."