Lest we forget: The West Midlands and Staffordshire marks Remembrance Sunday

Usual commemorations were scaled back or axed as a result of the virus, but a few small poignant services still continued to pay tribute to fallen heroes.

People across the country had been told to mark Remembrance Sunday at home due to virus rules – with people urged to share their tribute online.

Events have been live-streamed – with the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in London closed off to the public for the first time.

In Wolverhampton, the annual city centre service at the cenotaph was largely scaled back – with far fewer participants and no military parade.

It saw a handful of people gather – following coronavirus guidance – which was live-streamed on the council's Facebook page where people could pay tribute.

Mayor of Wolverhampton Councillor Claire Darke, Lord Lieutenant John Crabtree OBE, Royal British Legion chairman Fred Bunce, Wolverhampton Council leader Ian Brookfield and Councillor Jasbinder Dehar on behalf of Interfaith Wolverhampton.

Mr Bunce, chairman of the Wolverhampton Central Branch of the Royal British Legion, said: "It's been very different this year. We've come together whether in person here, at the cenotaph, or watching the live-stream at home, to ensure Remembrance Sunday is still marked appropriately in Wolverhampton.

"In 2020, we pay tribute to the men and women of the Second World War generation and those who have survived and sacrificed to defend our nation.

"We remember the service and sacrifice made by so many people, communities and the nations 75 years ago and reflect on the service and sacrifice of so many.

"We remember all members of the Armed Forces who did not come home. We also remember civilians who lost their lives when the war was brought to their homes.

"The challenges of returning home are still faced by service families today. Let us take with us those three little words which mean so much – Lest We Forget."

Councillor Claire Darke, Mayor of Wolverhampton, thanked those for attending in person and virtually and for organising the Covid-19 safe event.

She paid tribute to the lives lost in various conflicts – and thanked those who stayed at home for keeping Wolverhampton and the veterans at the cenotaph safe.

Councillor Darke said: "We remember all those who have laid down their lives in world wars and all conflicts to protect or freedom and security.

Our city has been hit hard with this deadly virus, families continue to lose loved ones and our thoughts are with you.

"My thanks goes to the small group here in person and also to those who remember at home safely, abiding to guidelines to protect each other and our veterans here and keeping Wolverhampton safe."

Councillor Dehar, speaking on behalf of Interfaith Wolverhampton, paid tribute to those who had lost their lives – to those whose names were cherished and those whose names are not known.

Elsewhere, veterans stood in silence at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire to pay their respects to the fallen.

Reverend Vic Van Den Bergh, the arboretum's honorary chaplain, addressed about 200 people as he paid tribute "to those whose memory we cherish and those whose names we will never know".

In Dudley, a ceremony was streamed by Dudley Council – and was broadcast on Black Country Radio – for people to follow safely from their own homes.

Dudley mayor Councillor David Stanley said: "Remembrance Sunday gives residents of the borough the opportunity to give thanks and pay tribute to all those who serve, or have served in the armed forces, and pay their respects to all who have made the supreme sacrifice for their country."

In Sedgley, the war memorial in All Saints Church was used for the first time with a socially distanced ceremony where a wreath was laid by Marco Longhi MP.

In Sandwell, mayor Councillor Dr Ann Jaron took part in a private service at Dartmouth Park in West Bromwich where she paid tribute to the fallen across the borough.

She said: "We were unable to commemorate these tragic losses in ceremonies attended by so many for the past 100 years because we are fighting a new battle, the tiny yet deadly enemy of Covid-19.

"Although we are unable to remember the fallen in the same way as usual that does not mean our respect has waned. It must not."

In Walsall, Councillor Gary Perry – deputy leader for resilient communities – filmed a short video to remember those across Walsall for their sacrifice.

Wreaths were laid by Stafford mayor Councillor Gareth Jones ahead of Remembrance Sunday at Eccleshall Road Cemetery with events cancelled due to the virus.

Council leader Patrick Farrington said: "Brave men and women gave their lives in conflicts across the world to keep us safe and this must never be forgotten. The most important thing at this period in our lives is to keep our residents safe and do all we can to reduce the opportunities for this virus to spread."

A remembrance event at Hednesford War Memorial was split into different sections to allow different groups and people to pay their respects.

Councillor Paul Woodhead, a town and district councillor, said: "We've run it in three parts for the day to take into account social distancing rules, so there was a short church service from St Peter's broadcasting through their Facebook page.

"We then had the remembrance event at 11am where we invited civic and uniformed organisations. It was recorded and broadcast through the town council's Facebook page and it was viewed by about 150 people live and around 3,500 afterwards.

"Ensuring there was a community act of remembrance is important and it's important for our town, too. We wanted to make sure it was marked with as many organisations as possible and it reached out to the community and everyone who wanted to could be involved with it."

Representatives from the county council, district council, town council, RAF Association, Salvation Army and the Royal British Legion among others attended the ceremony.

Fire crews from across the West Midlands paid tribute through a short video posted by the West Midlands Fire Service.

Thousands of poppies have been created and donated to St Peter's Church in Cradley, Halesowen, used to create a large poppy cascade – with the project taking a year to complete.

It was the idea of resident Doreen Clifton who suggested it after seeing a cascade of poppies from the church pulpit last year – with white and purple poppies used inside the church.

Rev Katryn Leclezio, team vicar for Cradley. said: "Little did we know, when Doreen had the idea last year how significant it would be! The poppy cascade is the work of so many people commemorating the sacrifices made in a striking visual way. It is visible for miles around and will serve as a reminder to all this Remembrance tide, especially as we cannot gather together this year."

Elsewhere, Stone Radio also carried out a special Remembrance Sunday show after the town's usual services were cancelled as a result of the pandemic.

And Stella Pettifer, who is involved with the Friends of Swannies Field group, organised an impressive display on Harden Road in Blakenall.