Share Your Poppy with Pride - People to commemorate Remembrance at home this November

To help control coronavirus and protect the community, including the most vulnerable, it is unfortunately not possible this year to hold the borough's main public service for Remembrance Sunday, which usually sees 3,000 people gather at the Cenotaph in St George's Park.

While this is unavoidable due to the unprecedented situation, people can still remember the fallen and kindly support the armed forces community by donating to the Royal British Legion via the Poppy Appeal: either online or by buying a poppy at one of the collection boxes located at local shops and businesses.

In the lead-up to Remembrance Day, when people are encouraged to observe a two-minute silence from home at 11am, people can visit the Cenotaph on any day of their choosing, in order to pay their respects in a socially-distanced way. Any wooden crosses placed in the Garden of Remembrance will be blessed as usual by a minister from the Great Yarmouth Minister.

People can also take part in Remembrance by drawing a colourful picture of a poppy, or a field of poppies, placing it in their window and posting a photo of their handiwork on social media with the hashtag #ShareYourPoppyWithPride. For those who prefer to colour-in a template or simply print a coloured image of a poppy.

Cllr Michael Jeal, the mayor of the Great Yarmouth borough, said: "While we would love to hold our usual public service, the safety of our residents and especially our most vulnerable is paramount, so staging a public gathering of 3,000 people is unfortunately not possible under the current exceptional circumstances.

"However, the people of the borough have proved over recent months that they are still able to come together, in a socially-distanced way, and I would encourage everyone to still support the Poppy Appeal, to place a poppy in their window and mark the two-minute silence from home to remember all those who have sacrificed so much in conflict."

Carol Borg, local Royal British Legion branch chairman, said: "Although these are very difficult circumstances we are living in at the moment, people can still support the Poppy Appeal in various ways.

"Remembrance Day allows us to reflect upon the many sacrifices made by our brave service men and women since the First World War. It also serves as a poignant reminder of the significance of public service, especially during this time of pandemic."

This year, East Norfolk Sixth Form College has taken on the role of the Poppy Appeal coordinator for Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, the third biggest fundraising area in the region. If you would like to order a wreath or if you would like to have a collection box and poppies in your shop, business or organisation, please email poppyappeal@eastnorfolk.ac.uk.