Annual Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving success

Club pay tribute and celebrate the lives of those who have passed away in recent times with annual service

Hundreds of Bolton Wanderers supporters attended the club’s Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving held at Macron Stadium on Tuesday evening.

The annual event, hosted by club chaplain Phil Mason, saw those present firstly take their places on the stadium’s west stand before Community Ambassador and former player Tony Kelly laid a wreath as Mason addressed the crowd.

In line with the centenary year of World War I, the Last Post was played before a period of silence and reflection in memory of those who have passed away in the last year.

Following this, spectators then retreated to the stadium’s Platinum Suite where the service continued with lessons being read out by the club’s Vice Chairman Brett Warburton and Captain Craig Roxby of the Royal Artillery. 

Names of loved ones that has been inscribed in the Memorial Book or engraved on a memorial stone during the past twelve month were also read out, while all the names of family and friends to be remembered from previous years were displayed on the big screen.

Those present were encouraged to come forward and light candles in memory of those who are no longer with us, with music provided by the Bolton Artillery Band.

Heavily focused on remembering ‘Wanderers at War’ and the retelling of the story of Bolton captain Harry Goslin who was sadly killed in action after leading the team to fight in the war, this year marks the 300th anniversary of his Bolton Artillery Regiment who are planning to follow back in his footsteps this 
summer.

Speaking following the event, Mason said: “It was great to see so many attending the service, and it was also good to remember the Wartime Wanderers and to have representatives of the Royal Artillery.

“It is always very moving to see families come and light candles as they remember their loves ones and hopefully the service was of some help to them.”

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