BRADFORD’S annual Festival of Remembrance, to honour fallen soldiers from the district, is returning to Bradford Cathedral this weekend.

The service will take place at the cathedral in Stott Hill from 5pm on Sunday, November 5.

This is the second year in a row the Cathedral will host the service, which for the previous 70 years had taken place at St George’s Hall, which is currently undergoing major refurbishment works.

There will be a number of musical tributes and performances throughout the free service, which is held every year in memory of servicemen and women from the district who lost their lives in the First and Second World Wars and all subsequent conflicts.

The City of Bradford Brass Band, conducted by director Lee Skipsey, will be performing at the service, along with Otley-based mezzo-soprano Claire White-McKay and former Bradford Grammar School student Ruby Hendry, from Guiseley.

The cathedral choir will also be performing under the stewardship of director of music Alexander Berry, who will be overseeing his first Festival of Remembrance.

There will also be community singing back in the festival programme, as well as the traditional Parade of Standards and Act of Remembrance.

The Lord Mayor of Bradford Councillor Abid Hussain said the service will “honour the memory” of those killed in conflict.

He said: “We are delighted that the Festival of Remembrance is returning to the beautiful surroundings of Bradford Cathedral.

“We are grateful always to our great-grandparents and great-great-grandparents for their sacrifices in the trenches of Europe in the ‘war to end all wars’.

“We especially remember this year those who fell exactly one hundred years ago in the second battle of Passchendaele.

“We honour their memory by committing ourselves to peace-making in our generation.”

Reverend Jerry Lepine, the Dean of Bradford Cathedral, added: “The commitment to pray for peace is needed as much today as ever.

“In many places around the world there remains sustained brutality, war and killings.

“During the Act of Remembrance we will pray for peace in our world and I encourage everyone to pray daily that this world might find ways of sustaining peace for all. I look forward to welcoming people to the Cathedral in November.”

Admission to the festival is free, although due to the Cathedral’s limited capacity people are required to book a free ticket to secure their place at the event.

To book a ticket, visit bradfordcathedral.eventbrite.com, or call the cathedral office on 01274 777720.