The Mayor of Ealing, Councillor Doctor Abdullah Gulaid, will be leading the Ealing Council annual Remembrance Sunday memorial service.
The event will be on Sunday, 8 November from 10.50am until 11.20am. It will take place at the war memorial on Ealing Green, outside of Pitzhanger Manor House, Walpole Park.
COVID-19 restrictions
Due to the current COVID-19 restrictions, the event this year will be significantly altered to ensure the safety of participants and spectators. Local representatives of the Royal British Legion have been involved in advising for this year’s event.
Unfortunately, there will be no parade or band, in order to keep the numbers involved in the event down. Music required for the service will be played through the PA system. The event will take place in a sealed off area with a much lower number of official participants. Allowance has been made for the maximum number of organisations to take part but with a much lower than normal number of participants in the ceremony overall.
Attending
The event will led by the Mayor of Ealing and the service conducted by the Reverend Dean Ayres, Associate Rector of Acton. It will be attended by local dignitaries including the Queen’s representative the Deputy Lieutenant, members of parliament, representatives of the Metropolitan Police and London Fire Brigade, the leaders of the political parties and the chief executive of Ealing Council.
Socially distanced seating will be in place for veterans and relatives of the fallen.
Live-streamed
The event will be live-streamed on the Council’s YouTube channel and members of the public are requested, if possible, to not attend but rather take part through the live-stream. For members of the public who wish to attend the guidance is clear in stating they can only attend the event with their own household or those in their support bubble, or individually with one other person from outside their household. Social distancing will be observed which may mean standing at a distance from the event with limited views and possibly unable to hear.
Councillor Julian Bell, leader of Ealing Council said: “Remembrance Sunday is when many of us remember loved ones lost to us through war. With 2020 being the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, it is extremely disappointing that COVID has had such an impact on all events that were planned to commemorate this.
“Our remembrance event has had to be scaled back to meet the restrictions we are observing. I encourage everyone to join with us from the comfort of their homes via the live-stream.”
