Christchurch will join the rest of the country to mark the centenary of the start of World War 1 on Monday 4 August with the Christchurch Lights Out event in Saxon Square.
The event will complement a candlelit vigil of prayer being held at Westminster Abbey. The organisers of the vigil, 14-18 NOW, are asking people throughout the country to turn the lights out for an hour from 10pm leaving just one candle burning in their window.
The Christchurch event starts at 8pm with a display of WW1 artefacts, literature, paintings and photographs from Christchurch Library and curated pieces from Christchurch Junior School and other community organisations.
A programme of music, songs and poems from period will take place from 9pm to 10pm in the Square with the Christchurch & District Band. The programme will end with the Last Post played by the Director of the Royal British Legion Band and a minute’s silence.
The lights in Saxon Square will go out at 10pm leaving a single candle in the window of The Mayor’s Parlour overlooking the Square.
The Mayor of Christchurch, Cllr Denise Jones, said: “I hope that people will come along to join us to mark the centenary of the conflict in which so many of our ancestors and relatives lost their lives.
“I also hope that people will join in the Lights Out event by extinguishing all lights but one candle in their homes for an hour that evening.”
