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27
Sept
Harrogate plans major new Festival of Remembrance
Plans are underway to establish an annual Harrogate Festival of Remembrance similar to the one held at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
The Harrogate Band, a brass band based in the town, is working towards holding an initial event at the Royal Hall on Thursday, November 11, 2027.
It hopes to sell 500 tickets at £12 a head, generating £6,000, with proceeds benefiting the Royal British Legion.
Harrogate Town Council agreed this week to underwrite the cost of the event for up to £5,000.
Schools, cadets, military and veterans’ communities, musicians and civic representatives would be among those attending.
Craig Ratcliffe, musical director of The Harrogate Band, would be the artistic producer and town tour guide Harry Satloka would be invited to be the host.
Gareth Gibbs, vice president of The Harrogate Band, referred to Harrogate strong military links in a report to town councillors. The town’s Army Foundation College provides the only basic training for junior soldiers in the British Army.
The report added:
The proposed Harrogate Festival of Remembrance would not seek simply to replicate the London event. Rather, it would take its inspiration from that established format and develop a Harrogate-focused programme, reflecting the people, organisations, history and communities of the town and surrounding area.
The Royal Hall in Harrogate.
The Harrogate Band organised similar events that attracted about 250 people at St Peter’s Church, Harrogate in 2023 and 2024.
The Royal Hall festival is expected to include music by The Harrogate Band, school performances, a guest vocalist, a marching band, historical presentations and a drumhead service led by a military padre, as well as a formal Act of Remembrance.
Pupils from Harrogate Grammar School, Harrogate High School, Rossett High School, St Aidan’s, St John Fisher and King James’s School would be invited to attend.
A steering group is to be formed to take the plan forward.
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