MEMBERS of the Royal British Legion’s Blaenavon branch opened the Garden of Remembrance at the town’s Cenotaph.

Graham Smith, Geoff Nash, Graham Knock and Cyril Turner joined branch president and Blaenavon town councillor Alan Jones, and leader of Torfaen council Cllr Anthony Hunt last week to open the garden for this year.

“It was a real privilege to be in attendance as President of Blaenavon Royal British Legion at the opening of the Blaenavon Garden of Remembrance with Members of Blaenavon Royal British Legion and the Leader of Torfaen County Borough Council Anthony Hunt,” said Cllr Jones.

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“The small service was conducted by Father Chris Walters. Also present were Graham Smith, Geoff Nash, Graham Knock, Cyril Turner who were the Standard Bearers.”

The ceremony was held ahead of the Remembrance Day parade, which will finish at the cenotaph on Sunday, November 14.

The parade will gather at Broad Street car park at 10.30am, and the march will begin at 10.45am through the town centre via Ivor Gardens to the cenotaph for an 11am service.

It had been at risk of being scaled down, the town council said, however, Torfaen council agreed to meet the costs of the town council employing a private traffic management company for the occasion.

Earlier this year, the Blaenavon branch of the Royal British Legion had been awarded a £250 grant from Blaenavon Town Council to buy gardening equipment to help maintain the Garden of Remembrance.

Following the award of that grant, Mayor of Blaenavon Cllr Liam Cowles said: “The hard working volunteers of the Royal British Legion have been keeping the memorial garden in fantastic condition for many years.”

If you would like to visit the garden, it is open from 9.30am to 4pm until November 14.