Remembrance Sunday. Remembrance Sunday in Fittleworth and Stopham

 Rev’d David Crook, Parish Priest to the two villages of  Fittleworth and Stopham writes:-

The second lockdown was announced after my magazine letter was published and plans have regrettably now changed.

As parish priest to the two villages of Fittleworth and Stopham, it is a with a very heavy heart that, in this exceptional year, I ask you not to gather at our war memorials. There has been a lot of discussion about how we could do this, in the Fittleworth churchyard, in particular, but the health and safety risks are too great.

If lots of people gather, even if we try to strictly distance, there is a risk of transmitting COVID-19. However hard we try, at Fittleworth the integrity of the school- and college- bubbles to which our young people from the uniformed organisations belong would be compromised by gathering for an all-age event, with older people bearing the greatest risk of becoming ill.

Please be assured that the names of the fallen will be read at both war memorials from 10.50am on Sunday and The Last Post, Reveille and National Anthem will be heard and a two-minute silence will be kept. It is our intention to stream the Fittleworth commemoration and, if at all possible, the Stopham observance also. A further message, with clickable online link(s) will follow.

Alternatively, you may wish to watch television coverage of the scaled-down national commemoration at the Cenotaph on Sunday morning.

During the lockdown period when we are permitted to take to the fresh air, you are, of course, most welcome to visit our war memorials and pay your respects, but please consider doing that at a time other than 11am on Remembrance Sunday or Armistice Day, next week.