Silence in the Square 2010
11 November 2010
At the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month. The Two Minute Silence is observed on Armistice Day, the day which marks the end of the First World War.
The Royal British Legion hosts "Silence in the Square" events to give the public an opportunity to participate in the Two Minute Silence.
Join us in Trafalgar Square in London and Castle Square in Swansea on Thursday 11 November for a moment of silence, shoulder to shoulder with all who serve. Together we will mark the Two Minute Silence and reflect on the human cost of conflict.
If you are unable to attend the live events, you can view a live webcast from the comfort of your own home or office. Just sign up at www.britishlegion.org.uk/sits prior to 11 November and then login to view the webcast from approximately 10am on the day.
In London, we invite you to join a host of special guests to help honour our fallen Service people and to remember those serving today. This annual event will again be hosted by television presenter Ben Shephard, with music from The Saturdays, Blake and The London Gospel Choir, and readingys by Keeley Hawes and Ben Barnes.
This will be the second Silence in the Square in Swansea, and will once again be hosted by BBC Radio presenter Mal Pope, with performances by Sarah Lark, finalist of BBC1's I'd Do Anything, Carrie's War theatre star Brigit Forsyth and superb Swansea-based male voice choir, the Gwalia Singers and live links to the sister event in London.
Members of the public are asked to start gathering in the squares at 9.30am and the event concludes (with the symbolic placing of the poppy petals in the fountains) at approximately 11.15am. Schools are invited to arrive anytime between 9.30 and 10.15am.
A bugler will be performing the Last Post and Reveille in both locations to mark the start and end of the Two Minute Silence.
Background information Silence in the Square performers
The Saturdays
Frankie, Mollie, Rochelle, Una and Vanessa stormed onto
the music scene just two years ago. Six Top 10 singles and two Top
10 albums later (including a platinum seller), they've sold over a
whopping 1.8 million records in the UK alone - and embarked on a
national sell-out tour. Today, they are undeniably one of the
biggest bands in the country.
Blake
Blake's
self-titled chart-topping album became only the second debut album
to win 'Album of the Year' at the Classical Brit Awards in 2008.
Their latest album, 'Together', shot straight into the Top 5 of the
UK classical charts, and was nominated for a Brit Award for Album
of the Year. With over half a million albums sold worldwide, Blake
continue to stylishly bridge the gap between classical and pop with
a stunning blend of voices. They are currently on a theatre and
cathedrals tour of the UK.
The London Community Gospel
Choir
From the soundtrack of the Lion King, to X-Factor
performances, to Wayne Rooney's wedding and on the football grounds
at FA Cup - The London Community Gospel Choir are the nation's
favourite choir. The choir was founded in 1982 by the Reverend
Bazil Meade and have been performing, recording and touring
since.
Keeley Hawes
British actress Keeley Hawes is well known for her
distinguished list of television credits including Spooks,
Ashes to Ashes and Tipping the Velvet and most
recently the BBC's reworking of the classic series, Upstairs
Downstairs. She has also appeared in a number of films
including Flashbacks of a Fool, Death at a
Funeral, The Bank Job and Complicity.
Ben Barnes
Ben Barnes's film credits include the
role of Prince Caspian in two of the Chronicles of Narnia films -
Prince Caspian and the soon to be released The Voyage
of the Dawn Treader - as well the title role in Oliver
Parker's Dorian Gray, and roles in Stardust and
Easy Virtue. His latest film projects include Locked
In and Killing Bono both to be released early next
year. His stage credits include Sex, Chips &
Rock'n'Roll (Royal Exchange, Manchester), Loving
Ophelia (Pleasance, London) and The History Boys
(West End, National Theatre). He's currently appearing in
Birdsong at the Comedy Theatre, London.
Ben Shephard
One of Britain's best loved television presenters, Ben
Shephard has been on our screens since 1998. For ten years we woke
up to Ben on GMTV and this year saw a move for him to Sky Sports as
the new host of Goals on Sunday and The Champions League. This will
be the third year Ben has hosted Silence in the Square for The
Royal British Legion.
Mal Pope
Born and bred in Swansea, Mal Pope was discovered by Radio
1's John Peel and at the age of 13 signed a record deal with Elton
John's Rocket Record Company. Mal currently manages to combine a
career in music, writing and broadcasting and has recently seen the
publication of his autobiography 'Old Enough to Know Better'.
Brigit Forsyth
Brigit is currently
starring in Carrie's War, the stage adaptation
of Nina Bawden's best-loved novel, which is at the
New Theatre in Cardiff this week, as part of a major UK
tour. From Brigit's extensive television career she is
probably best known as Thelma from Whatever Happened to the
Likely Lads. Recent theatre credits include Calendar
Girls at the Noel Coward Theatre, West End and UK Tour;
Noises Off at Birmingham Rep; and The Triumph Of
Love for the Royal Exchange, Manchester; Arsenic & Old
Lace (UK Tour); Humble Boy (UK Tour); and
High Society for Regent's Park Open Air Theatre.
Sarah Lark
Sarah most recently covered and played
the role of Nancy in Oliver! (Theatre Royal Drury Lane,
West End) having appeared as a finalist on I'd Do Anything
BBC1's Search for Nancy. Since the competition, Sarah has performed
in Betwixt at the New Ambassadors
Theatre, Mathilde directed by Simon Callow at the
Edinburgh Festival, and His Grace's Betting Shop at the
Menier Chocolate Factory. Sarah is currently performing alongside
Brigit Forsyth in Carrie's War. After Carrie's
War, Sarah returns to Swansea to start rehearsals for the
title role in The Grand Theatre's Snow White.
