Northumberland pays tribute to the fallen with low-key Remembrance Sunday services

Many towns and villages across Northumberland have carried out low-key Remembrance Sunday services to honour those who gave the ultimate sacrifice while serving their country.

Despite England entering a lockdown to halt the spread of the illness on Thursday, November 5, the Government have allowed planned services for remembrance to go ahead – however Northumberland County Council have asked residents to stay at home.

Bamburgh was one of those villages marking the day, with a small service which saw veterans paying respects and laing poppy wreaths at Bamburgh War Memorial.

Wreaths were laid at Berwick War Memorial during a small service and a field of poppies have been laid in the grounds of Berwick’s Main Guard by Berwick Civic Society.

In Cramlington, poppy wreathes were also laid at the cenotaph while residents stood socially distanced from one another to observe the two-minute silence and pay their respects.

Northumberland County Council announced in October that the yearly service which usually takes place at the County Hall in Morpeth would not be going ahead due to Covid-19.

At the time, a council spokesperson said: “We understand that this news will be disappointing to both those who are part of the event each year and visitors who come to pay their respects, but the safety and welfare of our residents and visitors has to be our priority during this crucial time.”

They also urged anyone who had planned an event to mark the remembrance period to ensure that local and national restrictions were adhered to.

The council commemorated Remembrance Sunday with an online service, during which the two-minute silence and observed, and they are planning to do the same for Remembrance Day (Wednesday, November 11).

Residents across Northumberland wanting to pay their respects on Armistice Day can do so from 10.30am by tuning into an online service hosted on its various social media channels.

Northumberland County Council are also asking residents to take to their doorsteps at 11am on Remembrance Day to observe the two-minute silence.

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