Remembrance Sunday 2020

Colchester Borough Council usually holds a public civic service and parade to mark Remembrance Sunday, which this year falls on Sunday 8 November 2020.

However, like other towns and cities across the UK, we have had to change our plans for 2020 due to the Coronavirus pandemic and Government guidance. As a result of this guidance, the Mayor of Colchester, Cllr Robert Davidson will be hosting a small socially distanced private service which Colchester Garrison Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Jim McManus has kindly agreed to hold at Merville Barracks.

Credit: Colchester & Ipswich Museums

Live streamed Remembrance events

The impact of the pandemic means that not everyone will be able to attend a Remembrance service in person this year and whilst Colchester’s civic event is being held in private, Ben Sutton of Colchester Community Group has offered to live stream the event to his Facebook page. We have also created this online resource to enable you to participate in the commemoration and remember the sacrifice and service of the armed forces community from Britain and the Commonwealth, no matter where you are.

At home with the Royal British Legion

To assist in your own ‘at home’ commemoration, you may wish to visit the Royal British Legion which contains a vast number of online resources including how to conduct your own act of remembrance, fundraising ideas, poppy knitting patterns and a donation page where in exchange for your donation you can download a poppy (or a poppy to be coloured in) that can be displayed in your window at home. The site also includes a section for Remembrance teaching materials.

Credit: Colchester & Ipswich Museums

Act of Remembrance on your doorsteps

We know that it is disappointing that we cannot all come together at the War Memorial to show our respects this year, but we would encourage you all to observe your own Act of Remembrance on your doorsteps, when the gun is fired at Merville Barracks at 11am, to signal a national two-minute silence.

The Cenotaph

For the first time in history, the service at the Cenotaph in London will also be closed to members of the public with representatives from the Royal Family, the Government and the Armed Forces laying wreaths alongside a number of veterans. For information on the history of the Cenotaph, visit the Imperial War Museum.