Convoy gets set for Remembrance Day
A LARGE convoy of lorries is to make its way through Burton as a mark of respect to those who fought for their country.
Simon Hines is organising the convoy, which is hoped will see between 15 to 20 large vehicles journey through town and past the war memorial just before 11am on Remembrance Sunday, November 8.
He has previously organised for truck convoys for the Clap for the NHS and Carers, which dozens of people watched from their doorsteps during lockdown.
This time, wagons will roll as the vehicles slowly make their way through the town to honour our fallen. The convoy will not sound their horns as they did for the NHS as this event is a solemn one, say the organisers.
People are being asked to watch the convoy and pay their respects to the fallen from their doorsteps or while out walking to maintain social distancing rules. The convoy will not stop at the memorial and people are being asked not to congregate there.
The convoy, which will be capped at 30 vehicles, will include motorcycles, classic cars, vans, tractors, classic Land Rovers, coaches and trucks.
It comes as Remembrance Day parades and services s up and down the country have been en cancelled due to social distancing fears.
Mr Hines said: “We did it for Clap for Carers over a few weeks and I got asked the other day if I’d be interested in doing one for Remembrance Sunnday because they canannot do the march h this year due to covid.
“I was asked if I wa was interested in org organising it as peopl people in vehicles can so socially distance quite easily. I put it out there on Facebook and got a really good response to it and people wanting it to be done. How big it is going to be I’m not quite sure as I’m still in the midst of organising it but it’ll be something quite nice.
“It will be something to show our respect to the fallen, there will not be blowing of horns.
“It will be flashing lights and a few banners on the trucks.
“We can’t mark it the normal, traditional way this year so we wanted to do something a little bit different and visual.”
It is planned to start it from the National Forest Adventure Farm, in Tatenhill, as it has got a big parking area and it will be large vehicles. It will leave at around 10.15am. From there the vehicles will go down Henhurst Hill and make their way in front of the fire station and plan to pass the front of the Burton and South Derbyshire College, where the war memorial is, just before 11am.
Mr Hines said: “I’m not sure how many vehicles there will be but 11 have confirmed at the moment and there will be classic cars and trucks and a couple of tractors.
“I felt quite honoured to be asked to do it. When I did the NHS one, a couple of us took it upon ourselves to start it and in the end it was quite a big convoy and a lot of people were coming out and waiting for us. It’s great to do something again for something that is so close to people’s hearts.
“In tough times it is something to raise spirits and another way of showing our respects for the soldiers.
“I would like to thank Tom Robinson, from the adventure farm, as he has put a lot of effort in as to letting us use it as a place to meet.”
Remembrance Sunday usually sees a large parade heading through Burton town centre to St Modwen’s Church, in the Market Place, for the church service.
It then makes its way to the war memorial for the minute’s silence and laying of the wreaths, where thousands gather to pay their respects to the town’s fallen.
It will be something to show our respect to the fallen, there will not be blowing of horns Simon Hines