This November 8th marks Remembrance Sunday and this year will be unlike any we have remembered before.
Due to Covid-19 and the current government guidelines, the parade and the evening service at St John’s Church will not take place; this is to ensure everyone is kept safe in line with government guidelines. As such the Frome Branch of the Royal British Legion RBL is asking that as a mark of respect, people who would normally come to pay their respects stay home this year.
The Frome Branch of the Royal British Legion (RBL) will instead conduct wreath laying on the town’s behalf with the Mayor and the Reverend Alsbury, after a two-minute silence at 11am on Remembrance Sunday. This will be live streamed to allow many people to observe the wreath laying and the two minutes’ silence collectively.
Frome RBL member Jane Norris, who has coordinated the event since 2009 said, “We realise these constraints will cause disappointment for many. Remembrance this year will be just as important, with a special opportunity being provided for many to take part from the comfort of their own homes, and this will ultimately create an archive for our town’s history.”
As the parade is cancelled, the Frome Branch of the RBL is inviting veterans, children, groups and individuals to record a 30-second piece which will then be edited to become the virtual Remembrance to be viewed online.
Record your own tribute
Mayor, cllr Anita Collier said, “Often remembrance is a deeply personal experience, with people becoming involved for all sorts of reasons. Whilst it is disappointing that we will not be able to be together to remember, it is a marvellous opportunity to record and preserve memories and stories about those personal experiences. I would urge everybody who would want to, to get involved.”
Please email videos, in landscape, to Revd Alsbury (colin.alsbury@gmail.com) by Monday 26th October in order for them to be included in Frome’s Virtual Act of Remembrance. Anybody requiring assistance to record their story should ring Frome Town Council on 01373 465757.
Please remember that as your act of remembrance this year, please show respect and stay home.
The Frome Branch of the Royal British Legion (RBL) report, “After our initial hopes for a small gathering on Remembrance Sunday, following the latest advice, the Frome Branch of the Royal British Legion, along with the Frome Town Council and in liaison with the police, have decided that there will be no Remembrance Event at the Memorial Theatre this year.
“Instead, we would like to invite veterans and serving personnel, individuals and families, schools and organisations to take part in creating a virtual Remembrance which can then be viewed on-line on the day. A link to a short YouTube video that outlines our plans is here https://youtu.be/tePK2njPwSg
“The Frome RBL will be in contact with every group or individual who normally lays a wreath to advise how best to make a recording. Remembrance this year will be just as important, but it will be different and special with the opportunity to be virtually more inclusive than ever with recordings, that can be made by anyone, then viewed on-line.
“There will be no evening Remembrance service in St John’s Church this year.
“Links for Remembrance updates can be followed on the parish website at www.stjohnsfrome.com. Take time to Remember this year and be part of creating and recording history for our town.”
