THE sacrifice of the men and women who are often the unsung heroes of the high seas will be commemorated for the first time ever in Ledbury, this Sunday (September 3), with a Merchant Navy Remembrance Day Service in the town centre.

The mustering point will be the War Memorial in the High Street, at 2pm, and the Red Ensign, the flag of the Merchant Navy, will be flying from the town's flag pole, by the Alms Houses.

A Ledbury Town Council spokesman said: "The service is to honour those from the Merchant Navy who served, and the many who lost their lives, during the conflict of the First World War, the Second World War, and The Falklands.

"We owe a tremendous debt to the courage and sacrifice of the Merchant Navy, both in conflict and during times of peace."

The spokesman added: "All Merchant Navy personnel, their families, descendants and members of the public are invited to attend."

After the service, refreshments will be served at The Burgage Hall, in Church Lane.

Free parking in town will be available all day.

The event will see the first official 'solo' engagement, in full completed regalia, of Ledbury's new town crier, Clive Gunn.

Mr Gunn takes over from the long-serving and much-loved town crier, Bill "The Bell" Turberfield, who has decided to retire.

But during Ledbury Carnival Day, the town was fortunate indeed to see both town criers on the streets.

Mr Gunn is well-known locally as the chairman of Ledbury in Bloom.