Traditional services not possible

WEST London leaders encouraged Londoners to commemorate Remembrance Day in a different way this year as the coronavirus pandemic meant traditional services were not be possible.

On the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, Hillingdon Council confirmed there would be no open public Remembrance Day or Armistice Day (November 8 and 11) services at the borough’s war memorials this year.

The local authority cancelled its own Armistice Day event, which is usually held at the Uxbridge Civic Centre forecourt, and announced that Royal British Legion branches in the borough had also cancelled their services individually.

However, Hillingdon’s mayor, Cllr Teji Barnes, was due to give a Remembrance Speech today (Wednesday) on social media, which could be watched on the mayor’s Youtube channel and on Twitter.

A council spokesperson said: “Whilst it’s important we give thanks to all who served and died for our country, and honour veterans and actively-serving members of the armed services, it is also important that we do so safely. Residents are therefore asked to commemorate this special occasion at home in other ways.

“If you would still like to pay your respects by visiting a borough memorial in person, we strongly advise that you do this before or after Remembrance Sunday and/or Armistice Day. Please also remember that any visits to the borough’s memorials should follow government regulations at the time and must avoid any situation that encourages people to gather.”

In Hounslow, the council encouraged residents to get creative and share how they are marking Remembrance Day at home. A spokesperson said: “None of us in Hounslow will be able to mark Remembrance Day in the usual way this year, so in order to show our respect together, we are encouraging people to commemorate Remembrance Day by creating poppy-themed artwork, photographs, cakes or other artefacts.

“We want people to send in photographs of their works, and we will share those on our social media channels as a Remembrance display online.”

However, in Ealing a “significantly altered” physical service took place at the war memorial on Ealing Green, outside Pitzhanger Manor House.

Ealing’s mayor Abdullah Gulaid led the Sunday service.

Due to coronavirus restrictions and to keep numbers low, no parade or band were present this year.

Among those attending were MPs, representatives from the Metropolitan Police, London Fire Brigade, and the chief executive of Ealing Council.