A GRANITE memorial will serve as a lasting tribute to Tottington Ex-Servicemen's Association, which disbands this weekend after 80 years.

The end of its long and illustrious era will be marked with a special Evensong service at St Anne's Church, Tottington, on Sunday (Sept 21) beginning at 4pm.

A dinner to be attended by ex-servicemen and dignitaries will take place in the evening at the Wellington Barracks in Bury.

Over the years, the association's numbers have steadily dwindled. The number today stands at 14.

For decades it has played an active part in the village's annual Remembrance Day parade. Vicar of Tottington and association chaplain, the Rev Hugh Bearn, said: "The church will now be taking over the organisation of the Remembrance Day parade. The association has been in existence for 80 years, pre-dating the Royal British Legion.

"Myself and the remaining members of the association did not want the organisation to simply fade away into obscurity. We wanted to go out with a real bang and to mark this occasion properly."

The granite memorial, depicting the three service badges, will be dedicated during the church service by the Bishop of Manchester, the Rt Rev Nigel McCulloch. He is the Lord High Almoner to the Queen and is also honorary national chaplain to the Royal British Legion. The memorial will lie in the church's north aisle.

Mr Bearn added: "The bishop will dedicate the memorial and will also preach. I will be leading the service. I have been in the parish for eight years and for the past five years I have been chaplain to the association."

Also attending the service will be the Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, Colonel Sir John Timmins. Both he and the Rt Rev McCulloch will be among the guests at the dinner at which a piper will play a lament in honour of fallen comrades.