COVENTRY will look to fly the flag for tolerance and friendship next month when the city’s annual peace festival returns.
The festival, which highlights Coventry’s role as a city of peace and reconciliation, will run between Wednesday, November 1 and Tuesday, November 14.
Lord Mayor Coun Jaswant Singh Birdi will be hosting a peace lecture on Friday, November 10 at St Mary’s Guildhall which will feature a talk from Marc Gwamaka, who is responsible for Aegis Trust‘s day-to-day national youth leadership programmes in Rwanda.
The WATCH charity will enable Coventrians to get crafty by making peace lamps and salt clay doves.
They will also be taking people on a ‘Step into Peace’ guided walk around the city.
The poignant annual poppy drop will take place on Armistice Day at 11am on Saturday, November 11 in West Orchards Shopping Centre.
During the two-minute silence, 4,000 poppies will drop from the dome of the shopping centre to commemorate the fallen.
The following day, the annual remembrance Sunday service and parade will take place at the War Memorial Park at 10.45am.
This will be followed by the Communal Grave Service at London Road Cemetery at 3pm.
Coventry City Council’s deputy leader, Coun Abdul Salam Khan, said: “It’s inspirational to see all the work that happens each year in our city to promote peace and understanding.
“This annual festival really brings people together and is a chance for many faiths, cultures and communities to get together and celebrate Coventry’s message of peace and reconciliation.
“I’d like to encourage people to enjoy what’s on offer which will hopefully inspire others to promote peace further afield.”
Visit coventry.gov.uk/peace for more information.
