Following the issuing of revised Government Guidelines in light of the November 5 Lockdown, Shrewsbury Town Council will proceed in hosting a revised socially-distanced Act of Remembrance from 10.45am on Sunday November 8 2020 in the Quarry.
The Mayor of Shrewsbury, Councillor Phil Gillam, will lay a wreath on behalf of the residents of Shrewsbury at the War Memorial alongside Air Vice-Marshal James Warren, the Deputy Lieutenant of Shropshire, Daniel Kawczynski MP, Councillor Peter Nutting, Leader of Shropshire Council and representatives of HM Forces including Group Captain Chris Mullen, Station Commander of RAF Shawbury and Heather Francis, President of the Shrewsbury Branch of the Royal British Legion.
A brief and thoughtful act of remembrance shall be led by Mother Yejide Peters from St Chads Church and RAF Shawbury, Reverend Padre Wing Commander Alastair Bissell, ahead of the Bugler sounding Last Post and a 2-minute silence at 11am.
Wreath laying will be restricted to those senior representatives on behalf of the wider community. Any organisations wishing to lay wreaths are asked to do so after the formalities have been concluded and Town Council staff will ensure they are safely laid around the War Memorial.
Due to revised guidance on Remembrance Parades issued by HM Government, the Town Council is actively encouraging the public to carry out personal acts of remembrance from their own homes and to follow the proceedings, which shall be streamed on both the Town Council’s website and Facebook feeds at https://www.shrewsburytowncouncil.gov.uk/ and https://www.facebook.com/shrewsburytowncouncil/
Any member of the public wishing to observe proceedings as part of their daily exercise must do so, adhering to the latest guidelines. Officers of West Mercia Police shall be in attendance to help, engage and advise.
Councillor Phil Gillam, Mayor of Shrewsbury said “I am delighted that we can still mark this occasion despite the current pandemic. We have commemorated Remembrance for over a century and in some ways the sense of loss this year is as ever important.”
Helen Ball, town clerk for Shrewsbury Town Council, said “Whilst this is not the remembrance event we would have liked to hold, we have to be exceptionally mindful of the Coronavirus Pandemic and the need to keep everyone safe. I would urge everyone to watch the event in the comfort and safety of their own homes.”
Heather Francis, President of the Shrewsbury Branch of the Royal British Legion, laying a wreath on behalf of all veterans, urged veterans to stay safe, and added: “I appreciate that this day is extremely important to our veterans. But their health is equally important and I will know that their thoughts are with me when I lay the British Legion Wreath.”
RAF Shawbury’s Station Commander and Commandant of No 1 Flying Training School and the Defence College of Air and Space Operations, Group Captain Chris Mullen, expressed his pride of being part of the proceedings: “We are grateful to the Town Council for making these arrangements in such challenging times. RAF Shawbury is proud to be part of the rich military history of Shropshire and I am proud to stand next to my Royal Navy and Army colleagues from Number 1 Flying Training School to pay our respects on behalf of the wider military family for the sacrifices made by our predecessors.”
Details of the Remembrance Sunday event will be updated on the Town Council’s website at https://www.shrewsburytowncouncil.gov.uk/
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