- It has been disconcerting for many locals that covid has impacted plans for Remembrance Day; with war veterans dismayed that they would not be able to attend the annual ceremony at Lytham Cenotaph. Locals were extremely distressed that they could not get a straight answer from Fylde Council regarding the ceremony.
It has recently been announced, however, that war veterans attending Remembrance day commemorations will be exempt from the new laws set out by the government. As gatherings have been forbidden by law in “very high risk” areas (tier 3), it wasn’t looking good for the yearly ceremony.
The new loophole in the law, announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, will allow veterans, their carers, members of the armed forces, and spectators to gather for the event, despite the vulnerability of the elderly in relation to Covid-19.
Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said: “The decision by the government to exempt Remembrance Sunday from the new restrictions strikes us as a blow for common sense and a welcome recognition of how important this day is to many older people, veterans especially.
“The organiser will have to carry out a rigorous risk assessment and it may be that the usual commemorations will have to be flexed, to allow for social distancing, and sadly that some may consider themselves too vulnerable to take part.
“There’s a lot of responsibility on organisers but this approach is infinitely better than a ‘blanket ban’ and hopefully in most places a meaningful commemoration can go ahead much as happens every year.”
