Maybole will mark the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II this Sunday, August 21st, with a special parade and drumhead service.

All local veterans of the war, ex-service men and women and uniformed organisations are invited to attend.

The commemoration is being organised by the Maybole Branch of the Royal British Legion Scotland in conjunction with Maybole Community Council with the help of funding from the Home Front Recall Fund which is a joint Lottery grants programme supported by the Big Lottery Fund and Heritage Lottery Fund.

In keeping with similar celebrations throughout the United Kingdom this service will be one of 'Thanks' and not 'Remembrance' and as such will not include Last Post, Silence, Reveille or Binyon’s Lines.

Standards carried will include Maybole Branch Queen’s Colour; Ayrshire Area Standard; Maybole and other Branch Standards; Royal Navy Association Standard; and Royal Air Force Association Standard.

The organisers are also hoping that contingents of the Army Cadet Corps and the Air Training Corps will be taking part in the event. Other local uniformed youth organisations attending and who wish to carry their Colours may do so but will not parade with the official Colour Party.

Everyone attending is asked to gather at the Greenside by 1.45pm and Colonel John Dalrymple Hamilton OBE TD DL will then be invited to inspect the Colour Party. Afterwards, accompanied by a piper, the Colours will proceed along the front of the parade and take up position behind Maybole Pipe Band who will lead off the parade.

The order of march is:

Maybole Pipe Band, Standard Bearers, Colonel John F Dalrymple Hamilton, OBE TD DL, two depute Lord Lieutenants - Commander John T Lorimer. DSO and Major John C K Young - Representatives Ayrshire Area RBLS, Members of the Clergy, representatives Strathclyde Police - Divisional Commander Chief Superintendent Hamish Cormack, Sub Divisional Officer Superintendent Bruce Kennedy and Section Inspector Stewart Gaudin, Provost Gordon Mc Kenzie and Councillors, South Ayrshire Council, British Legion Branches including Maybole Ladies Branch, Representatives of Hollybush Hous, Ex Service men and women, Army Cadet Corps. Girvan Detachment (ScottishYeomanry), 1371 (Girvan) Squadron. Air Training Corps., Maybole Community Council, uniformed Youth Organisations, other members of the public, and Maybole Fire Brigade.

The parade will then make its way from the Greenside via Ladyland Road and Kirkoswald Road to Maybole Swimming Pool car park. At the start of the service the drummers will march forward and stack their drums at the top of the Pavilion steps and return to their band positions. Maybole Branch Chaplain, Rev David Whiteman will stand in front of the drums to receive the Colours.

Robert Malone, Maybole Branch Standard Bearer, will march forward and present his Standard to the Chaplain who will drape it across the stacked drums and William Milligan will then carry out the same procedure with Maybole Branch Queen's Colour.

Members of the Clergy will then conduct the Drumhead Service and when this is finished the drummers will recover their drums and return to their band position.

The parade will then proceed via Kirkoswald Road and Whitehall to School Vennel with a march past at the Town Hall where the salute will be taken by Colonel John Dalrymple Hamilton.

Afterwards there will be a small reception in the Town Hall with a finger buffet and soft drinks.