Remembrance 2020: Portsmouth families called to mark two-minute silence from their doorsteps

CORONAVIRUS will not stop our great city from honouring its fallen war heroes this year – their sacrifices will be remembered.
Wreaths being placed at the Portsmouth Cenotaph for Remembrance last year.

Picture: Habibur RahmanWreaths being placed at the Portsmouth Cenotaph for Remembrance last year.

Picture: Habibur Rahman
Wreaths being placed at the Portsmouth Cenotaph for Remembrance last year. Picture: Habibur Rahman

That is the rallying cry today being issued to the area’s great and good as part of The News’s latest campaign – Stand Out for Heroes – to honour the nation’s veterans on Remembrance Sunday.

With many major events now cancelled due to the pandemic, families are being urged to stand on their doorstep, balconies or gardens and honour the two-minute silence, on Sunday, November 8, and again on Armistice Day on the 11th.

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Mark Waldron, editor of The News, said: ‘Portsmouth is Britain’s greatest military city and we must do everything in our power to honour all those who paid the ultimate sacrifice to defend our freedom.’

Stand out for heroesStand out for heroes
Stand out for heroes

The plea has been backed by leaders from across the political divide who said it was critical the heroism of all those who died defending Britain was honoured.

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Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson, leader of Portsmouth City Council, said: ‘It’s going to be very different this year. We normally have 8,000 people in Guildhall Square which is one of the very biggest parades in the country. And as a military city that is absolutely right.

‘But we can’t do that now because it will put too many veterans at risk. So it’s vital for everybody to try and find their own way of recognising the sacrifices made during war.

Thousands of people attended 2019's Remembrance Sunday event in Portsmouth. This year, there is no such spectacle taking place.

Picture: Habibur RahmanThousands of people attended 2019's Remembrance Sunday event in Portsmouth. This year, there is no such spectacle taking place.

Picture: Habibur Rahman
Thousands of people attended 2019's Remembrance Sunday event in Portsmouth. This year, there is no such spectacle taking place. Picture: Habibur Rahman
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‘I think it’s really important for people to stand on their doorsteps and put a poppy on their window and be seen to be supportive of our military heroes.’

The call comes as armed forces charity the Royal British Legion launched its annual Poppy Appeal campaign today.

The organisation, which supports veterans, forces families and current military personnel through bereavement and injury, has warned it will struggle to make ends meet as charity donations have slumped.

Claire Rowcliffe, director of fundraising at the charity, said: ‘The Covid-19 pandemic has had an overwhelming impact on people’s livelihoods and way of life, leaving some in the armed forces community in dire need of urgent help and support.

Parades across the UK have been called off this Remembrance as the country continues to battle coronavirus. Pictured: Standards being lowered in Portsmouth last year. Photo: Habibur RahmanParades across the UK have been called off this Remembrance as the country continues to battle coronavirus. Pictured: Standards being lowered in Portsmouth last year. Photo: Habibur Rahman
Parades across the UK have been called off this Remembrance as the country continues to battle coronavirus. Pictured: Standards being lowered in Portsmouth last year. Photo: Habibur Rahman
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‘The legion’s work is more vital than ever as we support our community through additional hardships from those struggling with social isolation, financial difficulties and unemployment, to those who have lost loved ones or are facing the threat of homelessness. Every poppy counts.’

In Portsmouth, a scaled back Remembrance service will be taking place at the Anglican cathedral in Old Portsmouth.

Although not open for the public, it will be broadcast live online on the cathedral and Portsmouth City Council’s Facebook pages from 10.55am. No parade is planned in Guildhall Square.

Likewise, Fareham’s traditional parade through West Street has also been axed and the service at the Holy Trinity Church has been restricted to special guests.

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Instead residents are being encouraged to watch the ceremony virtually via the church’s Facebook page from 10:50am.

Fareham Borough Council will also be streaming its ‘Forever Remembered’ roll call, where the names of military personnel killed during war will be read out, on it’s website from 10am.

Councillor Pamela Bryant, Fareham mayor, said: ‘This event is an important opportunity to pay our respects and thank the servicemen and women who served our nation so bravely.

‘Sadly, like so many things, this year’s service will be organised differently, but we hope residents will be able to take part by following it online.’

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Public events and parades in Gosport, Havant, Hayling and Emsworth have also been cancelled.

Havant will be live-streaming a service from St Faith's Church, at 10.50am at https://stfaith.com/livestreamed-services/.

Councillor Prad Bains, Havant mayor, said: ‘The act of Remembrance is one of the most powerful things we can all do to commemorate the sacrifice and service of all the Allied servicemen and women during the First World War, Second World War and all other conflicts through to the present day.

‘We owe our freedom and our way of life to all those British, Commonwealth and Allied personnel that have served in and beside our armed forces.’

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A wreath will be laid at Emsworth Memorial Garden, with a virtual service taking place from St James’s Church.

The traditional marking of Remembrance at the Cenotaph, at Hayling Island, will not take place. Instead a video will be available to watch on the Hayling Anglican’s YouTube channel.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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