On 11th November 2018, the UK and many countries overseas will mark the day 100 years ago when the guns fell silent at the end of the First World War.

Fairfield is joining in the worldwide series of events known as ‘Battle’s Over’, which will involve organisations and communities throughout the UK and in many countries abroad coming together to remember the sacrifice of millions of men and women. Hopefully as many of our community as possible will join in the commemoration.

The Fairfield event begins on Saturday 10 November, when from 2pm onwards there will be displays in the Community Hall of memorabilia from the Hospital around the time of the War. Artwork from Fairfield Park Lower School will also be on view.

All residents are invited to speak to older friends and relatives to find artefacts that they would be willing to display and share as part of this exhibition.

On Sunday 11 November Fairfield Community Church will hold its Remembrance Day Service in the morning, which will include the uniformed groups marching with their flags and the usual two minutes’ silence.

In the evening there will be a further major event in the Urban Park, where people are asked to gather from 6pm. There will be a bagpipe player, readings, and contributions from school children, the scouts, and other community members. We will all be invited to ‘plant’ a poppy around the mound, reflecting on the huge sacrifices made for us in all wars.

After the playing of the Last Post, the finale at 7pm will be the lighting of a beacon, one of more than 1,000 Beacons of Light that will be lit throughout the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and UK Overseas Territories. The first of these Beacons will be lit at Westminster Abbey.

We will then all go to the Community Hall for refreshments and for another chance to view the exhibition and decorations.