How our Greater Manchester boroughs will mark Remembrance Sunday in a Covid-safe way this year

Reporter: Nick Statham
Date published: 01 November 2020


Remembrance Sunday is one of the most poignant dates in the calendar, a chance for the nation to honour the fallen of two World Wars and those who have sacrificed their lives in service of their country.

It is usually marked by large crowds gathering to pay their respects at war memorials and parades led by proud members of the armed forces community.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the importance of maintaining social distancing, this year’s commemorations are going to be very different.

But that does not mean Greater Manchester will not be remembering those who gave their lives in conflict next month.

All ten boroughs in the city region have made plans to allow people to mark both Remembrance Sunday, which falls on November 8, and Armistice Day, on November 11.

Residents are being asked to ‘remember from home’ by watching special services streamed online, sharing videos and pictures on social media and taking part in a two-minutes silence.

Below is a full run down of how the Oldham, Manchester, Rochdale and Tameside boroughs are marking the occasion and how residents can get involved.

Oldham

A special remembrance service will be streamed online this year to ensure residents can safely commemorate the fallen.

Held at Oldham Parish Church at 11am on Remembrance Sunday, it will be a closed event for civic dignitaries, the Royal British Legion (RBL)  and the armed forces.

Oldham council leader Sean Fielding, said: “It is very sad that we cannot come together as a community this year to remember those who have lost their lives in war.

“Whilst we wish things could be different, we have had to make a decision on how best we could still commemorate remembrance safely.

“So while we will have to view Oldham’s Remembrance Service from home this year, please know that the sentiment of participating in a minute’s silence from home is just as meaningful and as heartfelt as it would be if you were at your nearby cenotaph.”

Wreaths will be laid at Oldham’s six districts but will not be accompanied by parades. Instead, this will be pre-recorded and streamed for people to watch on Remembrance Sunday.

Oldham’s Civic Tower and Oldham Parish Church will also be lit up with poppies for an entire week starting from November 4 until Armistice Day on November 11.

People are welcome to visit their local war memorial to pay their respects, but are asked not to lay poppies or wreaths at 11am to prevent crowds from gathering.

Residents are encouraged to add a tribute to RBL’s online field of remembrance and download an A4 Poppy poster from their website.

For more information on this year’s remembrance Service visit: oldham.gov.uk/RemembranceSunday

Manchester

There will be no parade or public service at the cenotaph in the city centre this year.

Instead people will be able to watch a pre-recorded service at 11am on Remembrance Sunday November 8 on the Manchester City Council Facebook page.

Residents are also being urged to undertake their own acts of remembrance at home by observing the two-minute silence, displaying an image of a poppy in their window, and watching the pre-recorded service.

And they can share their wartime memories, photos or videos using hashtag #RemembranceSunday or follow @ManCityCouncil on Twitter.

Manchester Central Library will be lit up red from November 8-11 to pay tribute to those men and women who died while serving their country.  

People who wish to lay a wreath are encouraged to do so at home or a local war memorial.

Manchester’s Lord Mayor, Councillor Tommy Judge, said:  “It is very sad we are unable to gather together for the city’s annual Remembrance Sunday, but I am sure you will understand that the safety of all those who would usually have taken part or supported the event is our highest priority.

“I would like to encourage the people of Manchester to take the time to remember, from the safety of their own homes, the ultimate sacrifice paid by those to whom we owe so much.  

"Whilst we can’t gather as a community, we can still remember as a community.   

“We will remember them, wherever we are.”

Council bosses are urging people not to come to the city centre on Remembrance Sunday as under Tier 3 guidelines all unnecessary travel should be avoided.

Rochdale

In line with the national advice there will be no official parades and services taking place on Remembrance Sunday.

Instead residents and veterans are encouraged to pay their respects at home, by observing the national two-minute silence and following the council’s videos, pictures and social media coverage.

Coun Janet Emsley, cabinet member for the armed forces said: “We are immensely proud of our armed forces past and present.

"This year’s Remembrance Sunday will of course be commemorated, albeit probably in a different way.

"With the safety of veterans and residents the number one priority, we will be asking people to ‘remember at home’.

“Our Armed Forces have always fought for us, now it’s our turn to fight for them by ensuring these brave men and women are protected at this crucial stage in the pandemic, in line with the COVID-19 rules around public gatherings.”

Councillor Emsley added that the council would shortly be announcing further details of how the day can be followed online.

David Forbes, president of the Rochdale branch of the Royal British Legion, said: “I am pleased that the council is encouraging people to commemorate the day at home.

"The health and wellbeing of residents and veterans is paramount.

“Everyone will have the opportunity to pay their respects, from the safety of their living rooms, as the borough comes together to reflect and remember on Sunday, November 8, 2020. Lest we forget.”

Tameside

Residents are being asked to remember in their hearts and in their homes rather than at a war memorial this year.

As usual, the Civic Mayor will lay a wreath on behalf of the borough at Ashton War Memorial, and wreaths will also be laid in other parts of the borough.

None of these will feature more than six guests and there will be no bands or processions.

The council appreciates members of the public will want to lay wreaths and are strongly urging them to avoid 11am on either Remembrance Sunday or Armistice Day.

Instead, they are asked to find a time between those dates to pay their respects quietly while adhering to Covid-19 social-distancing guidelines.

A national service will be broadcast on Remembrance Sunday which people can watch from home.

They are also encouraged to make a poppy to display in their window as a sign of their support for the occasion.

The Civic Mayor of Tameside, Coun Janet Cooper, said: “Remembrance Sunday is an emotional time of year and I can fully understand why people want to gather at one of our war memorials.

"So many of us have relatives who served in the forces and especially in the two world wars.

“Sadly, the pandemic and the chance of spreading infection prevents us from gathering as we would wish to.

"The coronavirus is an enemy we can’t ignore, and as those people who fought in wars would tell you, you have to respect your enemy and not provide him with an easy victory.

“As Civic Mayor it will be my great honour to lay a wreath on behalf of everyone connected with Tameside.

"Our fallen will not be forgotten.”

Other ways to remember and support for the armed forces community

The British Legion has prepared online information packs for people to learn about Remembrance Day which can be found here: https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-involved/remembrance/teaching-remembrance

Covid-19 has also meant that the Royal British Legion’s 2020 Poppy Appeal has had to go online.

But families can still get involved by downloading and colouring in a Remembrance Poppy to display in their window as a show of support – visit the Poppy Appeal webpages to find out more and make a donation to the Poppy Appeal.

Local and national support is available for those in the armed forces, veterans and their families.

For those who find the remembrance period particularly difficult, the British Legion have a wellbeing helpline open 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week.

Call 0808 802 8080 or visit: https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-support/physical-and-mental-wellbeing where there is also an online chat function.


Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.