Covid breach fear forces cancellation of ceremony

Aberfoyle gathering worry

The organisers of a planned Remembrance Day event in Aberfoyle have been forced to pull it after word spread on social media leaving them in fear of breaching Covid-19 guidelines.

The joint service and wreath-laying was organised between St Mary’s Episcopal and Aberfoyle Parish Church and was set to take place at the war memorial in the village, with attendance restricted to a maximum of 50 socially distanced guests.

But after word spread of the plans on social media, fears were raised about the potential for people to line the streets to pay their own tributes to the war dead, which may have led to breaches of existing guidelines on household mixing and distancing.

Ceremonies across Stirling have been cancelled in line with Covid rules.

A church representative admitted it was “very disappointing” to have to cancel the service, but felt they were left with no choice in order to set an appropriate example.

Janet Mccallum, session clerk at Aberfoyle Parish Church, told the Observer: “We were allowed under the regulations to hold the service as the war memorial is contained within church grounds and so we could have had 50 people under the rules for places of worship.

“However social media has meant that the word spread about there being an event in Aberfoyle and it generated quite a bit of interest to the extent that the presbytery clerk advised that it would be wise to cancel.

“It’s a bit disappointing because everything was in place including the piper but it can’t be seen that churches are promoting gatherings against the current advice.

“We have the advantage here that the war memorial is in the grounds compared to most communities where it is well away from the church building but we can’t guarantee things because of the interest it generated.”

The late cancellation has forced the organisers to scramble to arrange an alternative event to commemorate the poignant occasion, but they are keen to ensure that people don’t breach guidelines in efforts to attend.

Janet added: “It’s an emotive issue because of Remembrance Sunday but it’s been cancelled with our regret.

“The laying of wreaths will take place in some form on the day but we’re not promoting it as any form of event because we can’t be seen to encourage gatherings.”

The cancellation of the ceremony follows advice published by Legion Scotland and poppyscotland to mark the occasion by taking part in a two-minute silence on their doorsteps at 11am, while the annual service of remembrance at the Church of the Holy Rude in Stirling will be strictly limited to 50 invited attendees.

Disappointing because everything was in place