Small-scale ceremonies to go ahead on Remembrance Sunday in Biggleswade and Sandy

Biggleswade Town Council this week described the move as a “difficult decision”, explaining that to ensure Government guidance and social distancing is adhered to, there will not be a parade as previously advertised.

Instead, the ceremony will consist of a limited number of participants so that the proper marks of respect can be made to remember those that have fallen whilst serving their country.

This ceremony will be ‘live streamed’ onto the Town Council Facebook page, as well onto the council’s YouTube account. A spokesman said: “This will enable the public to be part of this important day, whilst doing so safely and socially distanced.

“We ask members of the public not to attend, however if you do, please do so following Government guidelines. If you show any symptoms of coronavirus please stay at home. We will continue to keep members of the public updated through our website and social media channels. We apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause.”

The Remembrance Service will commence from 10.40am.

In Sandy, the town council feels it is important to appropriately mark the occasion, and so will hold a brief act of Remembrance on Sunday, which will be strictly socially distanced and in line with current government guidance, with a small number of community representatives laying wreathes at the war memorial.

The council encourages residents not to attend the event, and instead to participate in Remembrance wherever they are. People can watch the national Remembrance Sunday commemorations from Whitehall on BBC One from 10.15am and join in the national two minutes silence at 11am on both Sunday and Wednesday, November 11.

The council has again adorned the town centre lamp posts with large poppies as part of Sandy’s commemoration and invites residents to share a message of Remembrance with the community on its website. Messages can be sent by email to [email protected] or to dropped at the offices at 10 Cambridge Road, SG19 1JE.

Donations can be made to the Poppy Appeal online, or by phone, text, or post, and the Royal British Legion have created printable A4 posters which can be downloaded after making a donation online; See rbl.org.uk/donate.