‘Special but different’ Remembrance Sunday in Leighton Buzzard and Linslade this year

Leighton-Linslade Town Council says it would like to thank everyone who participated in this year’s commemoration.

The council worked closely with the Leighton Buzzard branch of the Royal British Legion, All Saints Church and St Barnabas Church in order to ensure that a Covid-safe commemoration could take place.

Church Square was closed to traffic to allow 48 people into the square with two-metre social distancing. Face coverings were worn until everyone was in place. In addition to representatives of both councils and many uniformed organisations, the council was delighted to be able to invite a number of veterans and Royal British Legion members to attend, following the ballot held last month.

Wreaths were laid following the national two-minute silence and the brief service of remembrance, led by Rev Cate Irvine, was live-streamed to the town council’s Facebook page. The service also recognised that 2020 marks the centenary of the town’s iconic war memorial.

Following the Leighton Buzzard service, an Act of Remembrance took place at Linslade War Memorial in the Linslade Garden of Remembrance, led by Father Bernard Minton. Wreaths were laid and prayers said.

Recordings of both services can now be viewed on the town council’s website https://www.leightonlinslade-tc.gov.uk/remembrance or YouTube channel. The council would like to thank all those residents who stayed at home to remember, reflect and to watch the service remotely.

Cllr Mark Freeman, president of the Leighton Linslade British Legion branch, added: “Although very different from the usual Acts of Remembrance at our two war memorials, both the Leighton Buzzard and the Linslade ceremonies were very special and moving.

“With the very much reduced numbers at both, there was a feeling of intimacy (even though we were all over two metres apart).

“Led by Rev Cate at Leighton and Fr Bernard at Linslade, both services reflected both the need and desire to remember and the unusual circumstances in which we met. Many sections of our community were represented alongside veterans.

“We also celebrated the centenaries of both our war memorials, which were dedicated on November 11, 1920.

“The Leighton ceremony was streamed live on the town council social media, and later recorded on the All Saints website. Whilst those of us who were able to present experienced the atmosphere, those watching online had the added benefit of some wonderful images of our memorial and beautiful church.

“The team brought in by the town council to record the day produced a professional video of each of a standard that will be the envy of many towns.

“Thanks are due to both churches, to all those who took part and especially this year to the town council who ensured that both Acts of Remembrance were Covid safe.”

Trevor Roff, president of The Wally Randall Memorial Public Steering Group Committee and member of the Royal British Legion, was one of those who attended after being put forward in the public ballot.

He said: "It went very well. The vicar was brilliant and I felt very very proud to be representing the town and the Royal British Legion. I said to Mark Freeman that I did it really for the honour of Wally Randall [Britain's oldest poppy seller at 104 until his death earlier this year].

"The chap who did the parade mentioned the loss of veterans and Wally. It was lovely."

Trevor, who has medals for National Service and for being part of a peace keeping force in Cyprus with the 37th Royal Engineer Regiment, added: "The atmosphere was great and everybody was really friendly. There were quite a few spaces [at the memorial], about 40, but all distanced. It was really organised well. A few people were walking through town and stopped by the Post Office for a little while to watch and pay their respects."

> Leighton Buzzard golfers have donated more than £880 to the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal. The money was raised in entry fees for a dedicated VE/VJ day competition, boosted by other contributions from members of the Plantation Road club.

Club captain Simon Rossiter said: “Although the competition was abandoned due to heavy rain, the generous entrants gave the full fee this year’s Poppy Day appeal. Their kindness and support for this worthy cause has been fantastic."