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Oct 2020

Last Updated: 21/10/2020

Community

Harrogate district to mark Remembrance Day at home this year

by Suzannah Rogerson

| 21 Oct, 2020

With most Remembrance Day services and parades cancelled, organisers are encouraging people to commemorate the fallen by holding two-minute silences at home.

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Knaresborough pays its respects on Remembrance Sunday in 2019. Picture: Charlotte Gale.

Harrogate district organisations are urging people to commemorate Remembrance Day at home this year after covid restrictions forced traditional annual services and parades to be cancelled.

The Poppy Appeal, organised by the Royal British Legion, will continue to go ahead but collections and activities have been disrupted by social distancing requirements.

Remembrance Sunday activities on November 8 have also been affected, forcing local branches of the Royal British Legion and other groups involved to adapt.

The Knaresborough branch of the Royal British Legion is asking residents to hold their own two-minute silences at home as the church service and parade through the town will not go ahead.

David Houlgate, vice-chair of the branch, said:

"Arrangements are being made to lay wreaths safely but townsfolk are discouraged this year from attending at the war memorial.

"We are having to limit the number of collection boxes we can distribute this year to 20% of our usual number of boxes."

Despite the limitations, the branch is asking people to continue to support the Poppy Appeal, as funds help servicemen and women, veterans and their families.

Image Gallery of prominent locations in Harrogate and Ripon turning red as they're covered in knitted poppies ahead of Remembrance Day.

Ripon's branch of the Royal British Legion receives a donation from the city council during a difficult year for fundraising.

The service at Harrogate war memorial has also been cancelled. The Harrogate Mayor, councillor Stuart Martin, said:

“I urge people across the district to observe the national two minutes silence with your family and show your support for the armed forces community by displaying a poppy in your window.”

The annual service at Harrogate's Stonefall Cemetery, organised by Harrogate Brigantes Rotary Club, has also been cancelled.

A private wreath laying and blessing ceremony has been organised instead.

At least 13 wreaths will be laid on behalf of British and Commonwealth forces. Event co-ordinator Guy Wilson said:

“While this year we cannot meet together to remember those who gave their lives for us and the freedoms we now enjoy, we nevertheless recognise that the act of remembrance is important and will see that it is done with proper respect. Over 1,000 lives given for us lie in Stonefall. We will be there to honour them all on November 8.”

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which maintains Stonefall, has launched a tool that allows people to find out about the lives of local servicemen and woman who died in battle.

Barry Murphy, CWGC’s director general, said:

“This year has been like no other, and sadly this will have an impact on the usual traditions around Remembrance Sunday."

Dr Lincoln Sargaent, director of public health at North Yorkshire County Council, said it was working with local safety advisory groups and the police to ensure the day is recognised with public health in mind. He said:

“Where an event is planned well and follows the covid-safe rules and the government advice, we have no objections.

“Some events will have already taken the initiative to modify or cancel and we follow the organisers' better judgement on these matters.”

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Harrogate district to mark Remembrance Day at home this year

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