Moorlanders urged to Remember at Home this November

Published on 26 October 2020

People across the Moorlands are being asked to mark Remembrance Sunday safely from their homes this year as efforts to control the spread of coronavirus continue.

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, the Police, the Town Councils and local branches of the Royal British Legion have worked together to ensure that, collectively, we honour the service and sacrifices of our Armed Forces whilst safeguarding our communities.

To comply with the guidance and measures in place to try and bring infection rates down, people are advised to remember at home on Sunday 8 November rather than attend cenotaphs and memorials as they might otherwise have done.

Small ceremonies and services will still take place with a limited number of appointed representatives laying wreaths on behalf of their organisations and wider communities.

Congregations attending church services are asked to book in advance for test and trace purposes and the rules around prevention measures, including social distancing and limiting social contact, still apply. People attending services are also asked not to attend cenotaphs and monuments afterwards.

Councillor Sybil Ralphs, Leader of Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, said: "Remembrance events are at the heart of how the nation honours our Armed Forces past and present and, despite the restrictions we're all facing at this time, here in the Moorlands we've worked collaboratively to ensure that that won't change this year.

"But instead of attending services and laying wreaths in person we're asking people to remember at home to help protect yourselves and those you care about during the health pandemic.

"Our homes have become places to celebrate and mark the enormous contribution and sacrifices of so many people - in the Spring we all regularly took to our doorsteps to clap for our NHS - so it seems natural at this time that we honour our Armed Forces heroes in the same way.

"People can show their support by joining others across the UK by watching the national service on television and marking the 2 minutes' silence from their front doors, buying and wearing poppies and displaying poppies, poster and drawings in their windows.

"At a local level, the Town Council's in Biddulph, Cheadle and Leek will be sharing coverage of the small civic events taking place in the towns on their social media channels so people can still be involved in the commemorations without needing to attend the services in person."

Chief Inspector Mark Thorley from Staffordshire Police added: "We have worked together with our partners to ensure that local Remembrance Day events in Cheadle, Biddulph and Leek can take place safely and adhere to the current coronavirus regulations.

"To help prevent the spread of the virus and protect our loved ones, it is important that we all continue to comply with social distancing rules and the restrictions on the numbers of people permitted to meet both inside and outside.

"Together we are encouraging people across the Moorlands to participate in their own personal moment of remembrance at home, whether that be watching their local service online, or pausing for the two-minute silence.

"The sacrifices of our brave servicemen and women are never forgotten, even if we are unable to mark this as we normally would during the Covid-19 pandemic."

Coverage of the service in Biddulph will be available on the Town Council's website and Facebook page; Cheadle Town Council will be sharing links and information via their website ahead of Remembrance Sunday and people will be able to watch the service on the Team Cheadle Facebook page; and Leek TV and Moorlands Radio are covering the Leek service - they will publish links on their Facebook page in advance of the day.

The Town Councils are also making arrangements to collect wreaths in advance of Remembrance Day to lay on behalf of organisations and individuals. People are asked to contact their Town Council directly for more details.

The service from the Cenotaph in Whitehall will be broadcast on the BBC and there's more information about remembrance and this year's poppy appeal at www.britishlegion.org.uk

Mick Brough, Chairman of the Leek Branch of the Royal British Legion, said: "We regret that we can't hold our usual parade this year but ask people to support us by remembering at home this year to help stop the spread."