Remembrance Sunday is on Sunday 8th November this year.
The Remembrance Sunday Parade and Service is a major event in Newbury, Thatcham and Hungerford every year, and each town’s event regularly attracts thousands of people who wish to pay their respects. However, due to the current government guidelines on mass gatherings and social distancing, and for the safety of many, the usual parades and services will not take place this year.
Small, restricted services and wreath laying ceremonies will instead take place in each town.
To enable as many residents as possible to pay their respects on Remembrance Sunday, the restricted services and wreath laying ceremonies will be live streamed from both Newbury and Thatcham, and the event in Hungerford will be recorded and posted on social media.
The event in Newbury Market Place will also be broadcast live on Kennet Radio.
For their own safety, and the safety of those invited, the public are asked to NOT attend this year.
Newbury
A small, restricted service and wreath laying in the Market Place and at the War Memorial will be taking place for invited guests in a controlled environment. The areas in use on the day will be cordoned off. The Town Council is asking the public to ‘Remember from Home’ by watching the video live stream (accessed via the Newbury Town Council website and Facebook page) or by tuning into the live broadcast on Kennet Radio.
A wreath will be laid by the Mayor of Newbury on behalf of all the residents of the town.
The ceremony will start at 10:50am.
Organisations and individuals are encouraged to pay their respects safely in their own time and are encouraged to lay poppies, crosses, and wreaths at the War Memorial at any time during Remembrance Week in a socially distanced, safe manner. There will not be an opportunity for these to be laid during the restricted service on Sunday 8th November.
The Mayor of Newbury, Elizabeth O’Keeffe, urged everyone who would normally attend to reflect the solidarity and sacrifice of those we remember on Remembrance Sunday by listening to the event on Kennet Radio or watching the live stream.
She said, “We are saddened that we are unable to commemorate Remembrance Day in the usual way this year, when we gather in solidarity to acknowledge the sacrifice of so many down the years.”
Thatcham
Thatcham Town Council will hold a restricted service which will be live streamed for members of public to watch whilst they “Remember from Home”. The event will be streamed via the Council’s YouTube channel from 10.45am on Sunday 8th November.
Thatcham residents can also get involved and pay their respects by printing off (or drawing their own Poppy) to colour in and place in their windows at home. A template will be available in the Thatcham Town Council Newsletter which will be delivered to residents before 8th November. Alternatively, simply print or draw any Poppy picture and display in a prominent window.
The Town Council is also inviting Thatcham residents to join in ‘The Great Poppy Knit’ and knit, crochet or stitch poppies which will be included as part of a community installation on Thatcham Broadway from 8th November. The Council is asking for all handmade poppies to be brought to the Thatcham Town Council offices in Brownsfield Road by 30th October.
For more information on The Great Poppy Knit or to request a Colour Me Poppy sheet, please email enquiries@thatchamtowncouncil.gov.uk or call the Town Council offices on 01635 863592.
Hungerford
Along with other towns in West Berkshire, Hungerford Town Council is encouraging everyone to ‘Remember from Home’.
The Town Council is asking the Hungerford community to pay their respects by printing off a simple Poppy to colour in and place in their windows at home. The Council has made available a template of a Poppy Wreath – see below to download.
Paper copies of the template will be available to pick up from the table in the foyer of the library building in Hungerford which will be accessible during library opening hours. The library opening hours are on the West Berkshire Council website.
Alternatively, simply print any Poppy picture and display in a prominent window. Hungerford’s service and wreath laying will be recorded and will be available on social media for all to view.
https://www.hungerford-tc.gov.uk/blob/document/HungerfordRemembranceposterv5_201021_091138.pdf
