Remembrance Sunday 2021 in Birmingham: when is it and what’s taking place

Birmingham will fall silent to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice on Remembrance Sunday as memorial events take place across the city and in Solihull and Sandwell.

Remembrance Sunday falls on the second weekend of November - the closest to 11 November, which means this year’s memorial takes place on Sunday 14 November.

The event is is an opportunity to remember the service and sacrifice of all those that have “defended our freedoms and protected our way of life,” according to the Royal British Legion.

The Armed Forces - and their families, from Britain and the Commonwealth - along with the vital role played by the emergency services and those that have lost their lives as a result of conflict or terrorism - are all commemorated.

Here is a guide to the events taking place this year and why Remembrance Sunday is being commemorated.

How is Birmingham marking Remembrance Sunday?

Birmingham’s annual Remembrance Day Service will once again take place on Colmore Row, opposite St Philip’s Cathedral, on Sunday 14 November, attended by military veterans and armed forces representatives.

The city centre commemorations will begin at 10.15 where the Salvation Army band will play on Colmore Row and the Birmingham City Council Choir will also perform.

The parade will proceed along Colmore Row, and do a complete circuit of Cathedral Square and then disperse in Eden Place.

At 11am there will be a two-minute silence, with the start and finish marked by rifle fire by soldiers from 37 Signal Regiment.

Wreaths will then be laid on the Cenotaph by the Deputy Lieutenant and the Lord Mayor.

There will also be an opportunity for members of the public to lay wreaths at the Cenotaph.

Where else in Birmingham is Remembrance Sunday being commemorated?

Communities across Birmingham will be coming together to remember those who have died in war.

A service will be held at St Augustine’s Church in Edgbaston from 11am to 1pm.

After the service there will be a community event at the church to remember those who gave their lives.

Services will also be held at St Mary’s church in Moseley at 10am and St Anne’s in Moseley at 10.45am.

Solihull

A short outdoor Remembrance service will take place at the War Memorial outside St Alphege church from around 10.45am until 11.15am.

This will include the two-minute silence at 11am and wreath laying by those groups and organisations attending the service.

There are various Remembrance services taking place in the Solihull borough in the following areas:

• Bickenhill and Marston Green

• Castle Bromwich

• Dickens Heath

• Hampton-in-Arden

• Hockley Heath

• Knowle

• Shirley

• Solihull

Parades in Sandwell

A two-minute silence at the Oldbury War Memorial will be livestreamed on the council’s Facebook account at 11am on Sunday.

Parades will also take place on Sunday – organised by the Royal British Legion or local community groups, and supported by the Sandwell Council – at the following locations:

• Oldbury Civic Square, Halesowen Street.
• Rowley Regis, Powke Lane Crematorium.
• Smethwick Council House, High Street.
• Tipton, Victoria Park, Victoria Road.
• Wednesbury War Memorial, Walsall Street.
• West Bromwich, Dartmouth Park, Lloyd Street.

The Worshipful The Mayor of Sandwell, Councillor Mushtaq Hussain, said: “Although I am unable to attend the public Remembrance Sunday parades due to a surgical procedure, I – like many others across the country – will be remembering and honouring those who gave their lives for our freedom.”

A message from the editor:

Thank you for reading. BirminghamWorld is Birmingham’s latest news website, championing everything that is great about our city - reporting on news, lifestyle and sport. We want to start a community among our readers, so please follow us on Facebook,Twitter and Instagram, and keep the conversation going.