WITH regard to numerous letters to this newspaper that the anniversary of the First World War will go unmarked, I am pleased to confirm that on Monday, 4 August, there will be a Vigil at St Mary’s Church to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the war between 10pm and 11pm.

This time has been chosen to coincide with the exact time that war was declared in 1914. Within the Vigil the names of those men remembered on the cenotaph will be honoured.

I would ask any residents of Andover who may be be connected to those families to contact me if they feel they could take part in this special commemoration.

Please take this as a personal invitation to an event that will remember the conflict and the sacrifices made by the men of Andover.

The Vigil will end with a short time at the cenotaph with ‘Lights Out’ along with the Royal British Legion.

On the eve of the declaration of war in 1914, foreign secretary Sir Edward Grey famously declared: “The lamps are going out all over Europe, we shall not see them lit again in our lifetime,” providing the inspiration for the Lights Out campaign.

Please contact me for further information.

Barbara Long, Batchelors Barn Road, Andover,

Tel: 01264 354731,

e-mail: cllrlong@hotmail.co.uk