Stay home and pay your respects. Remembrance Service will be screened online

A Live Remembrance Service will be available online this year, so that Westbury residents can pay their respects despite social distancing measures.  

The Covid-19 pandemic has made any large gatherings a risk to public health which means a traditional service is sadly not permitted this year. However, that hasn’t deterred Westbury Town Council and the Royal British Legion from ensuring people in the town can still mark the occasion.

The online service, with readings from local clergy, the Mayor and the Royal British Legion, will be available through the town council Facebook page on Sunday, November 8th from 10.45am. Residents will be able to find a full recording of the ceremony at westburytowncouncil.gov.uk afterwards. 

The website link will also be sent out to the care homes of Westbury, so residents can come together in their communal rooms on the day. 

Any groups wishing to lay a wreath will be invited to do so any time after midday on November 8th, and before Armistice day on Wednesday 11th November. 

“In these difficult times, the safety of each and every resident remains the priority for all of us,” says the council who will be looking forward to planning a traditional service again next year alongside the Royal British Legion.

The Legion has ordered the wreaths for collection as usual.

Town councillors discussed ideas on how to mark Remembrance whilst keeping the public safe, at a policy  and resources committee meeting last week.

Cllr Mike Kettlety said, “I think it’s important that we publicise what we as a town council are hoping to do and give as much information as we can. It’s very important that the people of Westbury, particularly the elderly,  understand that we are looking after their interests and we are concerned that everything is done safely and respectfully.”

Councillors agreed the idea of an online service but considered what to do in the event of another lockdown due to Covid. Cllr Mike Cunningham suggested an amendment to the council’s plans whereby an address be prepared in preparation, which could be streamed, in case the town ceremony cannot go ahead at all.

He said, “Perhaps we should ask cllr Ward Jones and someone with camera skills to record a short version of what he might say just in case we get to the date and we can’t do it, if we are put into lockdown again.”

Cllr Michael Amos offered his camera and filming services. Members voted in favour of the recommendation and cllr Cunningham’s amendment. Cllr Mike Sutton, chair of the town council’s working group, thanked cllr Ward Jones who he said has put in a lot of work on this event.