Armistice events planned for Worcester

Armistice events, activities, performances and remembrance services are planned to take place across Worcester from 9 November through to, and during, 11 November.

All events are posted in our events calendar, however you can take a look at everything that is planned here and start planning how you are going to commemorate Armistice.

The People’s Collection

30 October - 12 November

The Hive, Sawmill Walk, The Butts, Worcester, WR1 3PD

Part of the Worcestershire World War One Hundred programme, the People’s Collection has been four years in the making with the team collecting letters, photographers and objects from across the County.

Studdert Kennedy Exhibition

5 – 11 November, 7.30am – 6pm

Location: Worcester Cathedral, 8 College Yard, Worcester WR1 2LA

Admission: FREE

An exhibition of the life and work of “Woodbine Willie”, Rev. Geoffrey Studdert Kennedy MC, vicar of St. Paul’s, Worcester and Army Chaplain.

Remembrance at The Hive

Friday 9 November, 10am – 8.30pm

Location: The Hive, Sawmill Walk, The Butts, Worcester, WR1 3PD

Admission: FREE

Booking is required for the film screening.

A day of remembrance and commemoration. Throughout the day join Discover History and the Worcestershire World War One Hundred Bell Tent in the atrium to find out more about the First World War at Home and at the Front.

At 6pm join members of Dancefest’s Worcester Gifted and Talented group and Worcestershire Junior Youth Dance Company for a free performance of When They Come Home. This moving dance piece, created with choreographer Clare Wood, explores the support of the soldiers for each other during World War One and how this support helped them to get through horrendous and unimaginable times.

At 6.30pm there will be another chance to watch the iconic 1916 film The Battle of the Somme featuring the acclaimed score by Laura Rossi. This screening is FREE however booking is required.

Drop-in Armistice activities

Saturday 10 November, 10am – 4pm

Location: The Hive, Sawmill Walk, The Butts, Worcester, WR1 3PD

Admission: FREE

Booking is required for the talks and the film screening.

Drop in to The Hive to visit the People’s Collection and see the Worcestershire World War One Hundred Bell Tent. During the day you can view the wall of handcrafted poppies, representing Worcestershire men and women who lost their lives in the Great War, and get involved with family activities including making your own poppies.

From 1pm drop into three talks focussed on World War One including:

• At 1pm - Paul Hudson talking on World War One research. Book here.

• At 2pm - Gillian Roberts exploring stories from Worcestershire’s First World War featured in The People’s Collection followed by Sarah Ganderton talking about Worcestershire’s Health and the First World War. Book here.

At 4pm there is another chance to view The Battle of the Ancre and the Advance of The Tanks (1916), a little-known masterpiece of British non-fiction cinema which documents the autumn and winter stages of the Somme campaign on the Western Front. Book here.

Voices of Remembrance with the Worcestershire Symphony Orchestra

Saturday 10 November, 7.30pm

Location: Worcester Cathedral, 8 College Yard, Worcester WR1 2LA

Tickets available from Worcester Live Box Office 01905 611427. £20, £15, £10. At least £5 from each ticket sold will be donated to support the work of military charities in Worcestershire.

Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the end of WWI this concert features music by English award-winning Composer Laura Rossi, Orchestral and choral work as well as poetry readings. Worcester Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Keith Slade Worcester Cathedral Choir Children’s choirs from the Rivers C of E Multi Academy Trust.

Armistice Remembrance Service and Poppy Drop

Sunday 11 November

Location: Worcester Cathedral, 8 College Yard, Worcester WR1 2LA

Admission: FREE

A day of remembrance at Worcester Cathedral and Cathedral Square.

6am – ‘The Battles Over: a Nation’s tribute’ lone piper playing at the Cenotaph.

10am – Remembrance Sunday Service, followed by the wreath laying service at the war memorial.

11am – Two-minute silence.

11am – Poppy Drop opposite the Cenotaph.

11.15am - Procession back to the Guildhall where the Lord Lieutenant and the Mayor will take the salute as the Remembrance parade marches past.

12pm – 4pm – half muffled Peal of bells on the harmonic minor for Remembrance Sunday, Armistice and the 100th anniversary of the end of the Great War.

Wreath laying for ‘Woodbine Willie’

Sunday 11 November, 3pm

Location: St John’s Cemetery, MacIntryre Road, Worcester, WR2 5LH

Admission: Free

Wreath laying at the grave of Geoffrey Studdert Kennedy “Woodbine Willie”. FAMILY DAY Sunday

Armistice Activities

11 November, 11am – 4pm

Location: Worcester City Museum & Art Gallery, Foregate St, Worcester WR1 1DT

Admission: FREE

Live music, WWI letters and hands on craft activities. Suitable for families.

Timed activities include:

1055: Museum and Art Gallery opens (just before minutes silence)

1100-1500: Children’s crafts – poppy making

1200: Performance of Harvey’s War Letters. Performed by the Cavan Trio- Janine Parsons (piano), Corinne Frost (cello) and Helena Cavan (composer/poet), Harvey’s War Letters is a remarkable and moving programme of music and poetry inspired by letters sent from the trenches by Harvey George Frost (1893-1974)- all the more poignant when noted that Corinne is Harvey’s granddaughter. With music by Elgar, Granados, Butterworth, Piazzolla and a specially commissioned new work, it is a truly uplifting and original way of commemorating the end of the Great War. Harvey’s War Letters is a free but ticketed event - please book your place by calling the Art Gallery on 01905 25371.

1500: Bugler followed by poppy drop inside the Museum & Art Gallery

1600: Event closes

Throughout the afternoon you can join in with tours of the Worcestershire Soldier Gallery and take a look at the watercolours from the Mediterranean Campaign.

Quiet Revolution: gentle heroism on the home front

Sunday 11 November, 2.30pm at The Guildhall, High Street, Worcester, WR1 2EY

Sunday 11 November, 6pm at Fort Royal Park, Worcester, WR5 2DJ (part of the Beacons of Light event)

Two of Dancefest’s performance groups, DFA (Dancefest Adults) and Chance to Dance Company, come together with choreographer Marie Oldaker, to perform a stirring and poignant piece of dance theatre that highlights how the First World War fundamentally changed the roles of women.

The First World War brought about a quiet social revolution on the Home Front, as many women came out of domestic service to take on the traditional roles of men – in factories, on the land and in skilled trades.

Having waved their loved one’s goodbye, women were fighting the Great War on their own doorstep.

Enduring loss, adversity and hardship, they discovered a new sense of purpose and dignity in comradeship, delicate-activism, unity and liberation.

These will be the final performances of this moving piece, much loved by both its dancers and audiences, since its creation in 2014.

The performances are free, you can find out more here.

WWI Beacons of Light

Sunday 11 November, 7pm

Location: Including Worcestershire Beacon, Malvern Hills, and Fort Royal Park, Worcester.

Admission: FREE

As part of Battle’s Over more than 1,000 Beacons of Light will be lit throughout the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and UK Overseas Territories as an act of commemoration.

At Fort Royal Park join the event from 6pm for a performance of Quiet Revolution by Dancefest. Dancefest is encouraging their audience at Fort Royal Park to bring torches (including on their phones) to help light their performance and create a poignant, dramatic atmosphere as they mark this very important day.

The evening includes poetry and an exhibition.

Please note: the performance is outdoors at the top of the park so we'd recommend you wrap up warm and wear appropriate footwear.

The events are free.

Ringing out for peace

Sunday 11 November, 7.05pm

Location: Churches across Worcestershire

Admission: FREE

Battle’s Over – Ringing out for Peace. Simultaneous ringing of church bells across United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and UK Overseas Territories as an act of commemoration.