'Stay home and pay your respects': Haywards Heath cancels usual Remembrance Sunday service
The town council will instead host an online service.
Haywards Heath Town Council is urging people to 'stay home and pay your respects', as its normal Remembrance Sunday service at Muster Green is cancelled.
Instead, the council will host an online service on 8 November because of the coronavirus pandemic and the current government guidelines.
Instead, a small contingent of six people will lay wreaths on the town’s behalf, including the Town Mayor, the Vice Lord-Lieutenant of West Sussex and representatives of the Royal British Legion (RBL) led by Reverend Charles Sargent.
This will be centred around a two-minute silence at 11am on Remembrance Sunday, which will be called by the normal maroon, which should be heard across most of the town.
But, the council has said that "even these arrangements will be subject to what restrictions are in place in November and a full risk assessment".
This service will be live streamed to allow people to observe the wreath laying and the two minutes’ silence collectively on the council's Facebook page.
The video will then be placed on the town council website and YouTube channel.
People can also stand on their doorstop for the national two-minute silence.
A statement from Haywards Heath Town Council, who has coordinated the event with the RBL, read:
"There will be no official service and parade taking place on Sunday (8 November) 2020.
"As the pandemic continues, nobody would be expecting around a thousand people to gather for our usually large public service attended by many elderly people including veterans and those who are more vulnerable to coronavirus.
"We realise these constraints will cause disappointment for many, but we urge you stay at home.
"Remembrance this year will be just as important, with a special opportunity being provided for many to take part from the comfort of their own homes, which we remind all is in line with the national advice."