Mid Sussex residents urged to mark Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day amid Covid-19

In previous years, Mid Sussex has marked Remembrance Sunday with parades and services across the district.

Representatives of the armed forces and local organisations are normally joined by thousands of members of the public wishing to pay their respects.

But this year, because of Covid-19, these usual events will not be taking place.

Mid Sussex MP Mims Davies said: “Every November, thousands of people in Mid Sussex proudly put on their poppies and raise vital funds for our veterans.

“But like so many things this year, honouring our fallen and donating to the Poppy Appeal has had to adapt to Covid-19.

“That is why I join with the government in asking Mid Sussex residents to observe Remembrance Sunday from home this year in order to protect the vulnerable in our communities.”

Ms Davies encouraged residents to donate to The Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal online, rather than pay their respects in person at the Cenotaph in London or at local war memorials in Mid Sussex.

“Ultimately, everyone can still be part of the Poppy Appeal and Remembrance Sunday despite Covid-19,” she said.

“Show the world you’re wearing your poppy with pride – even from home.”

Councillor Pete Bradbury, Armed Forces Champion and chairman of Building Heroes, said: “Armed Forces charities play a vital role in supporting veterans and serving personnel.

“It’s important that we continue to support them and the poppy appeal is a very good way of doing this.”

Charles Solomon, Poppy Appeal organiser in Haywards Heath, said Covid-safe collections have been arranged in shops including Sainsbury’s, WHSmith, Iceland, Robert Dyas and Tesco, and these will remain open until Saturday (November 7).

A shop in The Orchards will close from Thursday (November 5), as lockdown comes into force.

Mr Soloman said: “Two of our volunteers, David Collins and Maureen Dauwalder have been collecting for years.

“Maureen has been collecting for us for over 35 years and when her children were young they used to accompany her.

“David served in the Royal Artillery for many years and was awarded the British Empire Medal in the recent, delayed, Queen’s Birthday Honours for his services to the Poppy Appeal – a richly deserved honour, and we’re very proud of him.”

Members of the Mid Sussex branch of the Royal Sussex Regiment, Reg Myles, Vina Silvia and Robert Piper laid a knitted poppy wreath on the grave of PTE Henry Bennett of the Royal Sussex Regiment at Holy Innocents Parish Church in Southwater.

It was part of a project the branch undertook during lockdown – to put a wreath on each of the Royal Sussex Regiment war graves.

Mr Piper said: “The Mid Sussex branch of the Royal Sussex Regiment would like to thank West Sussex County Council library service and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for their help with this project.

“The members and friends have knitted over 250 knitted poppies to remember the men of the country regiment that did not come back or died of war wounds and are buried in Sussex.”