This year Remembrance Sunday was very different from previous years due to us being in a national lockdown. This lockdown, which the Prime Minister has said is essential to save lives, is due to end on 2 December, meaning that the normal way that the UK marks Remembrance Sunday had to change.
Of course, I hope everyone is following the rules so that when we get to 2nd December, we will have seen a reduction in cases and will be able to move back into the three tier system of regional restrictions.
Remembrance Sunday in the Moorlands is always such a special event. Across our towns and villages, we would normally come together at one of our many war memorials. I would have joined dignitaries and members of the Royal British Legion in person to lay a wreath to pay my respects. This year, however, my wreaths were laid for me by others to comply with the rules.
Thank you to Chief Inspector Mark Thorley, local town and parish councils and the Royal British Legion for making sure that there could be brief, socially distanced events across the District.
I hope you were able to listen to the live streaming of the services on local radio and when Big Ben struck eleven o’clock, came together in the Two Minute Silence to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Many of you have written to me about this second lockdown and I understand your concerns, especially about public worship in churches and other places of worship. I was sad that the usual Remembrance Service that I would normally attend at St Edward’s was not able to take place but during the new national restrictions in England, while places of worship will remain open for individual prayer, regretfully communal worship cannot take place at this time.
