Newsroom

With many commemorative events cancelled or scaled back due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Council is stepping up its activity to ensure that the borough continues to pay its respects and remembers those who have served and fallen in conflict for their country.

Between 7 November and 11 November, the Council is organising a range of different events which people can get involved in online or see safely in person.

The programme will include:

•Unveiling of a new commemorative sculpture by Telford sculptor Jacob Chandler in the Town Park’s Maxell Gardens . This has been commissioned and funded by the Council to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of VE and VJ Day this year.

•The lighting up of a number of key war memorials in the borough’s main towns. A number of landmark structures in central Telford will also be illuminated poppy red.

•A visual remembrance themed outdoor display in Southwater commemorating residents of the borough who died while serving their country. This will also be shown online. This will be in place on 7, 8 and 11 November from dusk until around 9pm.  Anyone who wishes to view this in person must strictly observe social distancing and the “Rule of Six”. 

•An appeal on social media to submit photos of those who served to create an online display or to feature in the outdoor display in Southwater, using #TWRemembers

•A live stream of the Council’s own COVID safe Armistice Day event at 11am on 11 November at the existing memorial in Telford Town Park, including the playing of the Last Post and two minute silence. Residents will be encouraged to watch this and join in the two minute silence on their doorsteps, workplace or online.

•An online toolkit to help people in the borough to create their own commemorative display at home or online 

Further details for these events are now being finalised. To keep up-to-date with the programme as this develops, follow the Facebook event or visit www.telford.gov.uk/twremembers

Council leader Shaun Davies said: “With the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II this year, it’s more important than ever that we help the borough to continue to mark Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day as best we can in these difficult times.

“Due to coronavirus restrictions, many of the usual Remembrance events in the borough are now unlikely to happen or will be scaled back, so we are helping to provide some focal points that people can join in either virtually at home or at a safe social distance in person, to ensure that we can all continue to pay our respects .”

Cllr Eileen Callear, cabinet lead for leisure, libraries and culture, added: “We will be working closely with a range of partners including the Royal British Legion on our plans and hope as many people as possible will want to get involved in these.

“The borough has long and strong links with the Armed Forces and it is absolutely right that do what we can to ensure that despite coronavirus, Telford and Wrekin continues to remember.”