Wakefield residents urged to 'paint the town red with poppies' for Remembrance Sunday as parades and memorials called off

With new lockdown rules in place, many of the district's planned remembrance events, including the annual parade and memorial service, have been cancelled.

But families are being encouraged to pay their respects from the safety of their own homes, with posters, displays and personal acts of remembrance.

Wakefield Council will lead the celebrations with a pre-recorded act of remembrance, which will be available from 10am on Sunday, November 8.

Councillor Charles Keith, Mayor of Wakefield, said: "Although our Remembrance service may be a little different this year, it is still important that we all take this time to reflect, pay our respects and thank those who fought for our country.

“It fills me with great pride to still be laying a wreath as part of a pre-recorded event on behalf of the citizens of our district as part of this year’s commemoration.

"I would like to encourage the people of the district to take the time to remember from the safety of their own homes the ultimate sacrifice paid by those to whom we owe so much, ensuring that their contributions are never forgotten.”

Members of the public are asked to avoid attending the War Memorial on Remembrance Sunday or Remembrance Day.

But they are encouraged to mark the occasion at home in whatever way they feel appropriate.

The clock tower at Wakefield Town Hall will also be lit red during remembrance week.

Nichola Holroyd, from Crigglestone, is encouraging her neighbours to display poppies and artwork in their windows and gardens over the weekend, similar to the NHS rainbows which were spotted across the country during the first lockdown.

She is hoping that the project will help to introduce young children to the idea of remembrance, as well as honour the military.

She said: “I was talking to my husband about it and I thought about all the people selling poppies who haven’t been able to do it as much this year.

“My son’s waiting to go into the military and my daughter is married to a soldier in Ripon.

“I was having a good throwing out session and came across some photos of a trip I took to Poland a few years back, to Auschwitz. I thought I’m going to try and do something.

“My daughter was complaining she couldn’t go out so I thought yes, let’s paint the town red - but with poppies.

“We’re going to make poppies with red paint and paper plates and then put them all along the fence.”

Your Express has also produced a special Poppy Poster, backed by the Royal British Legion, which we encourage people to display in their windows as a mark of respect this weekend.

Alan Austin, who runs an Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast Club in Castleford, says it is up to individuals to pay their respects.

Before lockdown, the club was attended by almost 300 veterans in the town, many of whom would be involved in the remembrance parade.

But this year, many members will be finding new ways to pay their respects from the safety of their own homes.

He said: “It’s a strange one this time. Normally we would be parading in Wakefield and Pontefract but this year the plans have all gone to pot.

“This year it will be individuals that do the same thing, but instead of doing it as a crowd it’s an individual.

“Remembrance Sunday cannot go by without an act of remembrance.

“It will be down to individuals to decide to make the act themselves.”

Mr Austin said that showing support for groups like the breakfast club and British legion is especially important this year, as many veterans face additional challenges during the pandemic.

He said: “A lot of our veterans sit at home, and coming to our breakfast club was the only time they came out.

“The government did an excellent job in telling people to stay home and it’s hard to get them out again.”

Geoff Cole served in the territorial army for three years before he became a full time soldier, and now volunteers at the breakfast club and local veterans support hub.

On Sunday morning, he will display his military standard on his doorstep, in a personal act of remembrance.

He said: “Remembrance Sunday to an ex-soldier is very important. Many ex-soldiers have lost their friends.

“They need to be remembered. And not only them, but our fathers and their fathers who stood for this country and died for it.

“That should count for something.

“A lot of people in this industry seem to think they’re gung ho glory hunters.

“Soldiers are very patriotic, more patriotic than any government man could ever be. I don’t think that the public really understands that.

“On remembrance Sunday, you have a sense of pride not for yourself, but for those that are gone. It’s for them.”

Remembrance Sunday this year is set to be a very different occasion as so many services across the UK are strictly limited on the numbers who are allowed to attend to pay their respects

That’s why this newspaper, along with its sister titles across the country, is inviting all our readers to join us in a two minute doorstep silence this Remembrance Sunday, to ensure we still remember in 2020 even if we cannot join together in Acts of Remembrance.

Today we have published a special Poppy Poster, backed by the Royal British Legion, which we encourage people to display in their windows, or to hold, as they stand on their doorsteps to observe a two minute silence at 11am on Remembrance Sunday.

And we urge everyone this weekend to show their support for Remembrance Sunday by buying a poppy if they are able, or by making a donation to the Royal British Legion.

This year more than ever, the Poppy Appeal needs our help as lockdown, and more people working from home, limit the opportunities for many people to buy a poppy.

Pick up a copy of your Express today for your free Poppy Poster.