ARMISTICE Day will start early in Okehampton with the ringing of the church bells of St James Chapel at 6am.

This will be followed by a short service outside the church on Fore Street, part of the Battle’s Over national campaign to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War.

The day will culminate in a bugler playing the Last Post and a beacon being lit at Black Down near Okehampton Camp.

In between, there will be the Remembrance Day parade, setting off from outside the town hall on Fore Street at 10.15am, with local serving and retired military personnel welcome to come along.

The parade will culminate with a service at the war memorial at 11am outside All Saints Church, where West Devon Borough Council has been working to clear debris from an oak tree which blew down in the wind.

And all are welcome to gather for refreshments in the Charter Hall after the service, organised by the RBL Okehampton branch and the town council.

There will be displays to view in the hall about the RBL’s ‘thank you’ campaign, which has been asking people across the country to say ‘thank you’ to the First World War generation.

The events in the town have been organised by the RBL Okehampton branch and the town council while the lighting of the beacon on the hill in the evening is being organised by Okehampton Hamlets Parish Council.

This will open with a bugler sounding the Last Post at 6.55pm and to be followed by the beacon being lit at 7pm by Cllr the Rev Mike Davies, followed by the reading of a special tribute thanking the First World War generation. There will be refreshments.

The beacon will be illuminated in the sky above St James Chapel, for people who cannot make it up to the top of the hill.

Hamlets parish council chairman Cllr Brian Wood said: ‘We are proud to be playing a part in this historic international event to commemorate the centenary of the end of the Great War and to recognise the contribution and sacrifice made by the men and women from our own community.’

There will still be a chance to buy a poppy from RBL collectors on Saturday (November 10) when air force and army cadets will be selling poppies around the town.

l A special remembrance concert is being staged by the Royal British Legion at the Charter Hall on Saturday, November 17.

Doors open at 7pm and the concert starts at 8pm with performances from local talents the Okehampton College Big Band and the Hummingbirds setting the scene for the evening’s entertainment.

‘We are delighted to be performing once again for the Royal British Legion and for our local community on this special occasion to commemorate the end of the First World War 100 years ago,’ said Okehampton College Big Band director Joanne Teixera.

The band, consisting of college pupils aged 13 to 18 years, is enjoying a flourishing reputation.

They will be joined by the Hummingbirds singers, a professional close harmony trio delivering cleverly perfected harmonies through modern vintage swing.

With music, dance and style, the trio of Grace, Bettie and Clara will be accompanied by Edie on the night to ensure a memorable occasion. For more information contact Major Peter Williams on 01837 840757.