Poppy Appeal set for Ballymena launch

This year’s fund-raising on Saturday November 3, when Mayor P.J McAvoy will officially launch the appeal which will conclude the following Saturday November 10. The Poppy Shop at the Services Club (52 Trostan Avenue) will have Poppies, wreaths and other Poppy Appeal items available to purchase in store. Static collection points will also be situated in both the Tower Centre and the Fairhill Centre.

Street collections will take place on Friday 09 and Saturday 10.

The Annual Remembrance Sunday Parade and Service on Sunday 11 November will once again be organized by the Ballymena Branch and the Borough Council.

Her Majesty’s Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Co. Antrim will be in attendance. All Legionnaires, Naval, Army and Royal Air Forces Associations shall assemble at The Services Club at 09:30 and uniformed youth organisations are also invited to participate. The Parade itself, led by Castlegore Flute Band, will step off at 10:25 and march to the Memorial Gardens via Trostan Avenue, Castle Street, Bridge Street, Waveney Road and Galgorm Road.

The Service of Remembrance will begin at 10:50 and the two minutes silence will be observed at 11:00 to coincide with the Remembrance service at the Cenotaph in London. Immediately following the service, wreaths will be placed upon the Memorial, led by HM Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Co. Antrim.

The parade will then reform and march to First Ballymena Church to join the congregation for morning worship. The route to First Ballymena will be via Galgorm Road, Lower Mill Street, Wellington Street, Church Street, and Castle Street. Mayor McAvoy will join the Lord Lieutenant to take the salute at the Post Office on Wellington Street. Following the service the parade will again reform and march back to the Services Club, the return route will be Demense Avenue, Tardree Grove and Trostan Avenue.

If you wish to volunteer at The Poppy Shop or ask any general questions related to the Poppy Appeal, contact 07900570524 or e-mail [email protected].