Mason Moore | Hinckley Reporter | 21 October 2023

LEICESTERSHIRE County Council’s Headquarters are to be lit up in red from next Saturday as a sign of remembrance and to support the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal 2023.

The County Hall will be illuminated in red lights each night starting from next Saturday (28 October) until Remembrance Sunday (12 November), and it is now hoped that ‘dozens’ of organisations across Leicester and Leicestershire will follow suit and pledge to light up too.

In fact, the Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire, Mike Kapur OBE, is calling on organisations across the county and city to light to do so. Last year, a number of community buildings were lit up as a sign of remembrance, including churches, war memorials, office buildings, community centres and pubs.

Mike Kapur OBE, Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire, said: “Once again this year, we are calling on organisations across the city and county to light up their buildings in red as an eye-catching way to honour those who gave their lives in conflict. I hope that by illuminating some of our buildings in this way, it will provide a simple but powerful expression of our community’s support for the Poppy Appeal.”

A service to mark Armistice and to pay tribute to all those who lost their lives in conflict is being held at County Hall on Friday, 10 November.

The short service will take place at the Stand Easy memorial, beginning at 10.45am, and will incorporate the laying of wreaths and a two-minute silence at 11am.

Dignitaries taking part in the service include the Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire Mike Kapur OBE, Chairman of Leicestershire County Council Dr Kevin Feltham and Leader Nick Rushton.

They will be joined by representatives of the Royal British Legion, serving members of the armed forces and cadets, as well as 30 pupils from the Hall Primary School in Glenfield. The service will be led by Revd Ludger Fremmer, Rector of St Wilfrid’s Church, Kibworth.

Dr. Kevin Feltham, Chairman of Leicestershire County Council, said: “I am honoured to be hosting this short service, which gives us all a chance to remember and pay tribute to all those who served and lost their lives during both World Wars and all other conflicts. I hope as many people who are able to will join me in commemorating the Armistice this year.”