THE Festival of Remembrance will be marked in Taunton by a series of events, including The Civic Service of Remembrance followed by a marching parade.

Taunton Town Council, working in collaboration with the Taunton Branch of the Royal British Legion, Taunton Minster and Somerset Council, have organised the events in support of the annual festival of Remembrance.

Remembrance commemorations are observed to honour the contribution of British and Commonwealth military and civilian servicemen and women involved in the two World Wars, and in later conflicts.

On Remembrance Sunday, November 10, a service led by Revd Jamie Fox and Revd Louise Bale, will be held at Taunton Minster from 9.30am, which will also be livestreamed via the Minster’s website.

After the church service, a parade of veterans, scouts, guides, and cadets will march through the town where a civic party will take the salute on the steps of the Old Municipal Buildings in Corporation Street.

The civic party will then process into Vivary Park where the Service of Remembrance and wreath placing ceremony will take place in front of the War Memorial at 11am. This short service will be livestreamed on the Taunton Town Council Facebook page.

As usual, temporary road closures will be in place throughout the commemorations.

However, this year the closures will be slightly different, extending down to Hurdle Way and the junction of East Reach and Silver Street to enable Upper High Street to remain clear of traffic throughout.

From 8am until 12pm, there are closures for the entire length of Magdalene Street, Church Square, Hammet Street, Whirligig Lane.

From 10am until 12pm the following will be closed: A3027 Fore Street, from its junction with North Street to its junction with Corporation Street; A3027 Corporation Street, for its entire length; The Crescent, for its entire length; A3027 Park Street, from its junction with A38 Cann Street to its junction with Corporation Street; A38 Shuttern, for its entire length; A38 Upper High Street, for its entire length; A38 Mary Street, from its junction with Paul Street to its junction with A38; Upper High Street High Street, from its junction with Upper High Street in a northerly direction for a distance of 100 meters.

Whirligig Lane Car Park will be closed from 6.00pm on Saturday, 9 November until approximately 12.30pm on Sunday, 12 November to ensure the parade route is fully isolated for both the Civic Service Procession and the marching parade.

On Monday, November 11, the Mayor of Taunton, Councillor Vanessa Garside will lead a two-minute silence in Taunton town centre from 10.55am for Armistice Day.

The two-minute silent pause of remembrance is observed at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month to mark the end of the First World War. The Town Centre closures for this are available to view here.

Councillor Bev Fernandes, Armed Forces Champion for Taunton Town Council said: "Taunton Town Council consider it an honour to host this series of events. It is an active demonstration of our commitment to the Armed Forces, which we formalised last year when we signed the Armed Forces Covenant.

"We are moving forward on this commitment and recently applied for Bronze level accreditation, in recognition of the steps we have already made in supporting our serving and retired personnel of the Armed Forces and their families.”

Members of the public wishing to commemorate Remembrance are welcome to attend any or all events.

Commemorative poppies are available to purchase from the Poppy shop, with the appeal formally launching on Fore Street in the Town Centre on Saturday, October 26, check out their Facebook page for a timetable of activities.

The shop will be located in the foyer of Taunton Visitor Centre, Ground Floor of the Market House on Fore Street.

The Poppy Shop will be open Monday to Saturday, between 9.30 and 16:30 from Thursday, October 24, until Saturday, November 9. Alternatively, poppies can be purchased in businesses and organisations throughout the town or ordered online at poppyshop.org.uk.