Event: Somme Sunday at Aston Parish Church

Somme centenary peace and reconciliation events at Aston Parish Church

The Battle of the Somme was devastating to Aston as it lost so many young men from the local community. 870 of the men who were killed in the first hour of battle had lived within one mile of Aston Parish Church. The local volunteer Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment suffered 588 casualties on the first day.

Events

Tuesday 28 June to 1 July and Monday 4 July to Sunday 10 July – Church Exhibition

There will be an exhibition in church that will be open daily from 10am until 4pm. There will be exhibits provided by local schools, Birchfield Harriers, the family of Alfred Wilcox VC, the Imperial War Museum, the Society of Friends and others telling the story of ordinary people doing extraordinary things in WW1.

Saturday 2 July – Choral and orchestral concert

The concert begins at 7.30pm and will be given by the Walsall Symphony Orchestra and Sutton Coldfield Community Choir featuring popular music from around WW1. Composers include Elgar and Butterworth as well as music from the shows and smash hits by Aston composer Albert Ketelby. Tickets cost £7.50.

Sunday 3 July – Somme Sunday Centenary service

The service will take place at 11 am followed by wreath laying at the cenotaph at 12 noon. Music from the Band of the Royal Warwickshire Regimental, preacher Rt Rev Mark Santer. The ex-service associations will march at 10:30 to the church from the Villa Park North Stand car park.

Saturday 9 July – Aston Heritage Day

11 to 5pm: A free event. 10 Heritage venues will be open in Aston and a free vintage bus service will operate. To obtain the full programme please visit Aston Hall, Aston Parish church, Birchfield Library, Jamia Masjid Mosque (Trinity Road), Sacred Heart Church or South Aston United Reformed Church.

For more information please visit the Aston Parish Church website, http://www.astonnechellscofe.org.uk/events