Cheltenham to hold services for Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day

Cheltenham will be holding the annual Remembrance Sunday and Armistice services to honour the sacrifice of those in both the First and Second World Wars, as well as those still serving in the armed forces today.

To mark Remembrance Sunday, a short, closed service will be held at the War Memorial on Sunday 8 November 2020 starting at 10.55am, and will be hosted by the Mayor of Cheltenham, Councillor Roger Whyborn and a standard bearer from the Royal British Legion. They will lay a wreath and observe the two-minute’s silence at 11am to honour the sacrifice of those in both the First and Second World Wars, as well as those still serving in the armed forces today. 

A small number of specially invited wreath bearers will attend to lay wreaths in two-minute intervals to ensure social distancing. There will also be no singing or musical performances.

The traditional parade for serving personnel, cadets and young people will not be held during the event. 

Councillor Roger Whyborn, Mayor of Cheltenham said: “75 years on from the end of the Second World War, it seemed to us especially important to remember those who sacrificed with their lives, to uphold the values of freedom and democracy, in spite of the practical limitations created in 2020 by coronavirus. Freedom and democracy are things we value and prize, and must never take for granted.”

Royal British Legion Cheltenham Chairman Roy Roberts commented: “Now more than ever, when we are unable to gather as normal in our thousands on the Promenade, it is all the more important that those of us who are able, stand in silence to honour those who gave their lives for our freedom, whilst also thinking of those still affected by conflict who live amongst us.”

Members of the public are encouraged to watch the ceremony from home where it will be livestreamed on the Cheltenham Borough Council YouTube channel. The council would be pleased to see how households are remembering an commemorating at home; please share photos on social media and tag Cheltenham Borough Council.

Members of the public who wish to lay a wreath at the War Memorial, or pay their respects in their own way, are invited to do so in their own time and if they are able to take a photo and post to social media, tagging Cheltenham Borough Council, the council can ‘like and share’ through their channels.