'Very different' Remembrance commemorations begin in Sunderland - here's how to join in

Due to Covid restrictions, the council is not going ahead with the annual city centre Remembrance Service and Parade and residents are being urged to stay at home to pay their respects.

As part of a Remembrance in Sunderland online programme, a series of poignant short films have been created with Lonely Tower Film and Media, which will be available to view over the Remembrance weekend, starting on Friday.

These films include interviews with some of the city’s inspiring veterans who make each Remembrance Day in Sunderland so special, the story of the Sikh’s involvement in the First and Second World Wars and how Washington couple Mary and Terry Evans traced and visited the grave of their First World War ancestor in Belgium.

On Sunday 8 November the Remembrance service will be streamed online from 10.45am so that the residents of Sunderland can still pay tribute at home for the fallen.

The pre-recorded service will feature the traditional aspects of the annual Remembrance event including The Lord-Lieutenant of Tyne and Wear, Mrs Susan Winfield OBE reading ‘In Flanders Fields’ and centenarian and prisoner of war on the Death Railway, Len Gibson BEM reading the moving ‘Far East Prisoners of War Prayer’. Residents will be able to pay their respects as ‘The Last Post’ and the chimes of Big Ben ring before observing the two-minute silence.

Speaking about this year's Remembrance commemorations, The Mayor, Councillor David Snowdon, said: "Remembrance Sunday has always been an important opportunity for the whole city to come together to pay tribute to all those who fought in conflicts past and present.

"Even though we can't be together in person this year, I know as a city we will come together and reflect on this important day and we will always remember those from our communities who paid the ultimate sacrifice."

The Royal British Legion is also encouraging people across the UK to ensure Remembrance Sunday is still marked appropriately by taking part in remote and socially distanced Remembrance activity, whether that be watching the service online or pausing for the Two Minute Silence in their home or on their doorsteps.

Council Leader, Councillor Graeme Miller, said: "Sadly because of the pandemic and specifically the current lockdown guidance, we are asking people to mark this year’s Remembrance Sunday in a very different way and I would encourage everyone to take the time to join in online”

The National Trust owned Penshaw Monument, and Sunderland City Council’s Northern Spire bridge, Fulwell Mill, the White lighthouse at Seaburn, Keel Square and High Street West, are also being lit red from Remembrance Sunday, 8 November until Armistice Day on 11 November. The Beacon is being lit red from Monday 9 to Wednesday 11 November.

There will also be the premier by Opera Sunderland of The Soldier’s Return which will premiere online on 8 November 2020 to mark Remembrance Sunday and will be available to watch for free until 30 November via https://www.operasunderland.co.uk/operas-events/the-soldiers-return.

Details of Sunderland Remembrance 2020 online programme, which begins on Friday 6 November can be found by visiting: https://www.seeitdoitsunderland.co.uk/sunderland-remembrance-online-2020

Mark Thorburn, director at Lonely Tower Film & Media, said: “This year has been incredibly challenging for so many people and so many communities, and we have seen time and time again how important working together is. We were honoured that Sunderland City Council approached us to ensure that this year’s Remembrance was appropriately marked.

“Working with the council we came up with a plan to create a series of films that tell the story of Remembrance via those that attend services – the act of Remembrance itself is usually one where a community stands together, but also an incredibly personal tribute to those that sacrificed everything for what we have today. With these films we have been able to see behind the eyes of those that stand silently every November, and to discover what this annual event truly means to them.”