Wilmslow Remembrance Sunday parade and service cancelled

by Lisa Reeves

Sunday 25^th October 2020

Sun 25^th Oct 2020

In order to comply with Covid-19 restrictions, arrangements for the year's Remembrance Day have been changed to minimise any gathering on Sunday 8th November.

As a result, there will be no Remembrance Day Parade or Service this year and Wilmslow Town Council, who has coordinated the arrangements for a number of years, are asking members of the public not to attend the Memorial Gardens on Remembrance Sunday.

All organisations who usually lay wreaths in the Memorial Gardens are also being asked not attend at the Memorial Gardens at 11am but consider sending their pre-labelled wreath to the Town Clerk prior to Remembrance Sunday. These wreaths will be then be laid by Council officials.

Any organisation that wishes to lay its own wreath is requested to only do so from 11.15am, after the conclusion of the event, maintain the 2m social distancing rules and respect the Rule of Six.

Members of the public are being asked not attend the Memorial Gardens between 10am and midday on Sunday 8th November.

The Chairman of Wilmslow Council will approach the war memorial alone shortly before 11am. He will then read the Exhortation without sound amplification which will be followed by the 2 minutes silence at 11am and the Kohima Epitaph. Following this he will lay a single wreath on behalf of the town of Wilmslow.

Martin Watkins, Chairman of Wilmslow Town Council said "To cancel Remembrance events or radically change them all due to a virus does not come easily. However it is a sobering thought that the flu pandemic which followed World War 1 killed more people than lost there lives in that Great War on all sides put together.

"We do not want to see history repeat itself so these changes, no matter how unpalatable, are necessary. Remember the fallen of all wars by silently remembering at home for two minutes at 11am on Sunday 8th November 2020. We will remember them."

Additional arrangements are being made with St Batholomew's Church for up to five members of the Wilmslow Branch of The Royal British Legion to be invited to attend St Bartholomew's Church at 11am on Wednesday 11th November 2020 to lay a wreath at the Legion memorial in the church. Members of the public are asked not to attend at this time due to restrictions on numbers attending religious premises.

Tags:: Remembrance Day, Wilmslow Remembrance Day

Comments

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.

Mark Russell

Sunday 25^th October 2020 at 8:59 am

So this council thinks it’s ok to give a licence to the market every month but don’t think it’s appropriate to thank our fallen hero’s.

Thank god the lads in wwii didn’t stop fighting when they got flu, or we would all be speaking German now.

This is an utter disgrace.

Sandra Cox

Sunday 25^th October 2020 at 10:36 am

Could not agree more with Mark Russell's comments. I had to read this twice to believe it. Perhaps the production team of STRICTLY COME DANCING should be invited to advise how to stand up to Covid as they are doing such a sterling job protecting everyone on an INDOOR programme.

I remember my Mother talking about seeing the fighter planes flying in formation over our house in Essex and how often so few spluttering planes returned in drips and drabs.

We owe all who fought in all wars to remember them as we always do and not show weakness against this enemy.

Kathryn Blackburn

Sunday 25^th October 2020 at 11:29 am

Indeed shades of Captain Mainwaring here. Put that light out.

Keith Chapman

Sunday 25^th October 2020 at 12:20 pm

Wilmslow Town Council have clearly made the rresponsible decision. We should remember those who gave their lives in all armed conflicts as we do each year. It is not however sensible to bring large groups of people together at this time. Martin is right to ask us all to observe a period of silence in our homes to show our respect. Martin himself spent his career in the RAF and will have been very reluctant, as he says, to cancel this year’s ceremony.

Monday 26^th October 2020 at 9:23 am

Last time I checked the Tier 2 rules it is still ok to meet outdoors and so it is up to the individual's choice whether to attend or not provided they take common sense precautions - not the town councillors choice.

Monday 26^th October 2020 at 11:49 am

Hi Kathryn. You are spot on. I will be showing my respect down there at 11:00 on Remembrance Sunday and I would encourage everyone else to do the same.

Pete Taylor

Monday 26^th October 2020 at 6:45 pm

The Government have said that, even in Tier 3, the Remembrance gatherings may go ahead. I’m surprised that our Conservative Councillors are, for once, not following the Party Line.

Why has the Artisan Market not been cancelled?

Kareem Masdoon

Wednesday 28^th October 2020 at 8:05 am

Keith Chapman was Martin a Battle of Britain pilot or more recently in the RAF? The current RAF is a very different beast from the 2nd world war. And gathering outside is not going to cause Black Death part 2...I am sure folk will be sensible.
In the meantime when one looks a REAL DATA and applies critical thinking skills we get helpful videos like this
https://youtu.be/PRu6Mgb49Uk

Gemma Evans

Wednesday 28^th October 2020 at 10:21 am

Re: Sandra Cox. Usually for a BBC audience they welcome any number of people, so it's fine to go along by yourself or with a group of friends or family. This year for Strictly they have said only families can attend to maximise the number of people they can fit in, while keeping a suitable distance between different households.

Marcia McGrail

Wednesday 4^th November 2020 at 10:47 pm

Such a pity they weren't on hand to cancel the war itself. What would that selfless generation have thought of this selfish one?

Thursday 5^th November 2020 at 8:40 am

Marcia the war era was a different time.
They were called up and if they didn't turn up they were arrested. And as now the leaders were not those fighting on the front dealing with the hardships.