Silent Soldiers unveiled

Three 'Silent Soldiers' have been unveiled in Cheshire East as part of this year's programme of events to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War.

The near life-size silhouettes of a 'Tommy' unveiled in Crewe town centre on May 16th have been sponsored by Cheshire East Council in support of a national campaign by The Royal British Legion. Created by Amber Knipe, they mark the launch of the fourth and final year of the Cheshire East Reflects programme.

They stand as a tribute to those who did not return home from the conflict, which lasted from 1914-1918.

Over the coming months, the Silent Soldiers will be used across the borough to promote the commemorative activities.

The 2018 programme includes a free family concert at Tatton Park, Knutsford, on Sunday 26 August. Visitors are invited to take along a picnic to the event, which will feature the Staffordshire Military Wives Choir, Cheshire's own Foden's Band and Sacred Sounds, which tells the story of British India's involvement in the First World War.

The final commemoration events, called 'When the Light Goes Out', will take place during Armistice weekend in November and will also be free to attend.

The first will be held in Crewe town centre on Saturday 10 November and will focus on the survivors of the war. It will include a parade inspired by Crewe's 1918 Tank Week -- part of a fund-raising campaign led by the government, which saw tanks touring England's towns and cities -- and a street concert featuring music from bands and choirs from across Cheshire East.

The second event will take place on Sunday 11 November, at Tatton Park, and will be based on the theme of 'the fallen'. It will feature a piece of projection work created and inspired by archive and community sourced footage and stories about the war, a promenade performance and the launch of a newly-commissioned choral piece.

During a formal ceremony to mark the end of the First World War, a commemorative flame, which has been burning at Tatton Park since 2014, will be extinguished.

For more details about the programme of events and information about how you can get involved, visit: www.cheshireeastreflects.com

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