Remembrance Day 8th November 2020

A spontaneous ceremony to mark Remembrance Day

On Remembrance Day 2020 we had Covid and confusion which meant that no official ceremonies were run in the Castle Point Borough. The official wreaths had been laid in the previous week. I was on an exercise walk and thought it would be a good idea to record the lack of people around the War Memorial especially this year which is the centenary of its first Armistice Day parade.

As can be seen in the early photos there is nobody about and these are timed at around 10:40 am. However returning from the walk around the village showed people had appeared by 10:52 am.

These people kept socially distanced. The Last Post was sounded by the bugler followed by the two minute silence. The bugler then sounded the end of the silence. During the silence traffic through the area voluntarily stopped. A few wreaths were then laid.

At 11:11 am the crowd dispersed and traffic began to flow again.

A video of the event is on this page and pictures of poppy displays around Benfleet are on this page.

Benfleet War Memorial at 10:36 am on Sunday 8th November 2020.
Phil Coley
Wreaths which had been pre-laid on Benfleet War Memorial. Picture taken at 10:37 on Sunday 8th November 2020.
Phil Coley
Benfleet Tommy's view of Benfleet War Memorial area at 10:39 am on Sunday 8th November 2020.
Phil Coley
Benfleet War Memorial area at 10:55 am on Sunday 8th November 2020.
Phil Coley
Benfleet War Memorial area at 11:09 am.
Phil Coley
Benfleet War Memorial area at 11:21 am on Sunday 8th November 2020.
Phil Coley

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