With Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day fast approaching, members of The Royal British Legion, the Parish Council and our Churches in Ruddington say they will still mark these days as best they can – even though the annual commemorations will now fall during the Government’s new, national ‘lockdown’ caused by COVID-19.
The worrying resurgence of the potentially deadly Coronavirus means even ‘socially distanced’ services (some of which had resumed at St Peter’s recently) along with any sort of indoor or outdoor gatherings for November 8th or 11th are no longer on the cards in our village – even though Downing Street indicated today that some closely controlled outdoor events will be permitted.
Vicar of Ruddington, Rev’d Andrew Buchanan, reveals: “The Churches, the British Legion and the Parish Council have combined to put together an online ‘Service of Remembrance’ (produced by Baptist Minister Sam Hackett). It’s so sad that we’re not able to meet at the War Memorial, as we always do, but we couldn’t let this Remembrance Sunday pass, without stopping to commemorate those who died for our freedom. It is also wonderful that we’re able to introduce Rev’d Nichola Jones (the new Minister at Ruddington Methodist Church), who is giving the address.”
The video to watch on Remembrance Sunday November 8th is below. Please start playing it at 10:47’35” in order to observe the two minute silence at exactly 11:00’00”.
2020 will certainly seem a very strange year indeed, with no processions or crowds along Church Street for the first time since The Great War – as we continue to do battle with a much less obvious, viral invader. Instead, Ruddington’s War Memorial gates will be open between the 6th and the 14th of November for the placing of wreaths and crosses by individuals, groups and organisations from our village. The Chairman of the Parish Council, the Armed Forces Community Champion and a Borough Councillor will lay their wreaths on Armistice Day, Wednesday 11th November.
The impact of COVID-19 during Remembrance is, of course, even more far reaching than that – with the Royal British Legion (RBL) already unable to carry out many of its usual fundraising activities for the annual ‘Poppy Appeal’. It comes just as the charity’s work is more important than ever, to support the most vulnerable in our Armed Forces community. This includes older veterans that RBL cares for, those suffering from social isolation, and those facing new challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chair of the Ruddington & District Branch of the RBL, Ken Hicks, tells us: “We have boxes in most shops, public houses, cafes, etc, but many of these are being closed. No street collections are possible – and the Village Market on the 7th of November, where we were due to have a stall, has been cancelled. So, if anyone needs anything – from poppies to wreaths – they can contact me on my mobile number 07977-488054” says Mr Hicks.
You can also make an online donation >>HERE<<.
Unlike during the original ‘lockdown’, St Peter’s Church will remain open – on Sundays from 9am to 12 noon and Thursdays 10am to 11am – for anyone who would like some quiet space to pray and collect their thoughts. The vicar and churchwarden Mike Houghton promise everything will be as ‘COVID-safe’ as they can make it – with face masks, hand sanitizer, ‘socially distanced’ seating and ‘track and trace’ all in place.
“In these dark and scary times, I have just been so encouraged by the all the love and kindness I have seen demonstrated in our village” says Rev’d Buchanan. “As we enter another time of lockdown, I simply want to encourage everyone to use this as an opportunity (as an excuse) to love some more! This ‘lockdown’ means that we have the perfect excuse to call a distant relative and ask them ‘how they are doing’? It’s the perfect opportunity to speak to our neighbours, to say ‘thank you’ to our bus drivers and to bless our retailers by shopping local. When it comes to caring, I believe that timing is almost everything – so let’s do it now!”
With the latest ‘lockdown’ in England set to finish on December 2nd at the earliest, only time will tell whether Christmas in Ruddington will look very different this year, too.
