Manchester to remember war victims

A Service of Remembrance to honour British and Russian victims of the Second World War will be held in Manchester on Friday (9 May 2008).

It will take place at The Cenotaph in St Peter's Square at noon.

Speakers will be the Lord Mayor of Manchester, Councillor Glynn Evans; Councillor Mike Amesbury, Assistant Executive Member for Arts and Leisure; Olga Aslanova, of Manchester Russian Community; Captain Evgeniy Shalobanov, Naval Attaché at the Embassy of the Russian Federation, assisted by Commander Andrey Loyko, Assistant Naval Attaché.

Pupils from Withington Girls' school will read The Wind of War by Russian poet, Anna Akmatova, while the St Petersburg Male Voice Choir will perform O My Field. The service will include the music of renowned composer Dmitri Shostakovich as well as the Last Post and the Reveille by the Royal Marines. The wreath laying will be followed by the National Anthems of both Great Britain and the Russian Federation.

Lord Mayor of Manchester, Councillor Glynn Evans said: "The Service will be a fitting tribute to all of those who fought for our freedom with courage and bravery in the Second World War. We have a particularly strong friendship with St Petersburg, Manchester's twin town, and are proud to welcome all our friends from Russia to honour our heroes."

For further information on the event please contact Bernard Selby on 0161 225 9232.

Media contact:

Martin Hellewell, tel: 0161 234 3729.