How Dewsbury can still honour those on Remembrance Sunday

Just because we can’t meet and stand shoulder to shoulder, it doesn’t mean we can’t honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

The Reporter Series has teamed up with the Royal British Legion (RBL) and we are urging our readers to mark Remembrance Sunday with a two-minute doorstep silence.

People throughout the country are being urged to step outside at 11am on Sunday November 8 in silent tribute to those who gave their lives in war.

With the public barred from the Cenotaph in London for the first time in 100 years and the cancellation of parades and church services such as those in Dewsbury, Mirfield, Batley and Spen the Royal British Legion is determined to honour the fallen.

Big gatherings are banned but small local services, focusing on the laying of wreaths and without communal singing, will be allowed.

Mirfield’s Remembrance Day parade, reputed to be the biggest outside Westminster, is cancelled and the town’s RBL branch volunteers won’t be manning stalls or collecting on the streets.

A couple of years ago the Mirfield branch alone raised £19,000 but organiser and parade officer Tim Wood said donations would be well down this year.

The branch only has traditional poppies and a limited number of pin badges to sell and Tim is appealing for individuals and businesses to donate items to sell or auction.

Among the items donated so far are two £60 chimney pots hand-painted with a poppy design which will go to the highest bidder.

Tim said: “We are seriously going to be down this year so if anyone sees a poppy tin please give generously. If anyone has any items to donate please get in touch.

“We won’t be able to help as many people as usual but every penny counts.”

The Batley branch of the RBL urged people to stay at home and support the doorstep silence.

A spokesman said: “The restrictions applied to protect us all must be observed. We would advise people not to visit memorials as you normally would as this could easily create a situation where social distancing would be difficult and the likelihood of transmission high.

“However, Remembrance is not just an important public activity but is for many also a time of private recollection and tribute so instead we would suggest your own private act of Remembrance, including a two minute silence at 11 o'clock (maybe on your own doorstep) could be the best way this year.

“The parades, bands and wreath laying ceremonies will have to wait until this is all over and we can come together again in a joint act of Remembrance and thanksgiving.”