Messages of Remembrance from armed forces and council personnel

Date published: 08 November 2020

Messages of Remembrance from armed forces and council personnel as we remember the fallen.

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Caen Matthews, Chairman Rochdale Branch Royal British Legion, trustee Rochdale Veterans Breakfast Club, Rochdale Council Armed Forces Support Officer

Parades are stopped but Remembrance Sunday is still here; I ask you to remember in a different way. I will lay a wreath with my children that week. On the day I will put up a flag and remember ALL who have sacrificed from my living room. Stay home and stay safe. 

Lest we forget.

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David Forbes, MBE DL President Rochdale RBL & Breakfast Club

Instead of the parade and service at the Cenotaph, we are encouraged to pay our respects at home, by observing the national two-minute silence and follow the special council videos, pictures and social media coverage.

Can I encourage you please to support the Poppy Appeal. 

Keep safe everyone.

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Brian Lamb,  President Rochdale Parachute Regiment Association

Although we will not be able to attend a Remembrance Day parade in the usual format, it does not mean we have to forget what the day means to all the families who have lost or had relatives injured in any of the wars, including both world wars and all the conflicts in living memory. I hope everyone will pay their respects in their own way.

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John Rodgers Vice President and Vice Chairman, Rochdale & District Fusiliers Association

With Covid recommendations, as a branch, we are not organising commemorations; branch members may individually visit their local memorial and pay respects privately. Steve (Chairman) and Barry (Secretary) are planning a virtual remembrance event to be streamed online. I can still see lads I served with who were killed on operations; for me, they will remain forever young. Tragically they paid the blood price, which underlines the fact that freedom is not free. Therefore, we must not misuse our freedom nor take it for granted. Let us not forget those whose lives are marred by being wounded both in body and in mind and also their families who suffer alone and in silence.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,

Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.

They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,

They fell with their faces to the foe.

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The Mayor Councillor Billy Sheerin

Remembrance Sunday is an annual wakeup call regarding the futility of war. Countless people of all nations and creeds lost their lives having to defend themselves, their families and countries against the stupidity of mankind. We are not born with prejudice or hatred against our fellow man, this comes with being influenced by evil people. We must thank our veterans for their selfless sacrifice for the freedom that we enjoy today, may God bless them all.

No one should live in fear.

Lest we forget.

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Councillor Ashley Dearnley, Leader of Conservative Group Rochdale Council

Unfortunately Remembrance Day cannot be honoured in our usual way this year due to the ongoing threat of coronavirus. As with previous generations that stood firm in the face of dangers raging from pandemic illness to the threat of armed invasion in the 1940s, people were called to do their bit and be part of the national effort. 

It is a tragic irony that the remaining survivors of the generation who endured the struggles of World War Two to defend our nation's very existence are the most endangered by Covid. We will still remember and honour all who fought and died for our freedom.HM The Queen rightly said, 'we will get through this together and we will meet again.'

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Councillor Allen Brett, Leader of Rochdale Borough Council

I am proud of the work we do across the borough to support veterans. As we mark Remembrance 2020, let us take a moment to remember the sacrifices so many Rochdalians made in past conflicts. They fought hard to protect and keep us safe. We never forget them. We are not having parades and services this year, but the borough will still come together united as one, to pause, reflect and remember.

The Covid-19 pandemic has made us realise, more than ever, how important our freedoms and liberty are. It is timeless values that our armed forces fought to protect, defeating evil to ensure our liberal values were maintained. It is those brave men and women whose names live on forever on memorials across the borough. We will fall silent to remember, thank and honour them. Their spirit will always live on.

Lest we forget.

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Ian M Sandiford Deputy Lord Lieutenant

On Remembrance Sunday we remember people who have fought in many wars over hundreds of years. This year will be different as we remember them, but from our own homes, not with hundreds that assemble at war memorials across the borough.

We are now fighting another enemy equally as dangerous, but this time unseen, and no one is safe from this deadly attacker. We can however try to repel this enemy by following the instructions given out by the medical experts and together we win this battle.

We must remember all who have perished in battles past, but also the people of all ages who have perished due to this terrible pandemic. Let us hope this battle will soon be won, and next year share in the Remembrance service together. Keep safe and well.

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Councillor Janet Emsley, Rochdale Borough Council, Cabinet Member for the Armed Forces

As Cabinet member for the Armed Forces, I am proud to pay tribute to our brave servicewomen and men, past and present, for everything they have done and continue to do on our behalf. We remember their many sacrifices, to let them know we will never forget as we pause in reflection and remembrance. Thousands of men and women across our borough have played their part in helping to secure peace, protect our freedoms and defeat our enemies. We owe them a tremendous amount.

Yes, this year is different  but we can pause, reflect and recall the debt of thanks we owe to so many.  As we stay and stand at home, in gardens, on streets with family and neighbours, pausing to commemorate, this year’s remembrance is more poignant than ever.

We can reflect on how our freedoms are so important to us and enjoy that freedom when normal life returns, just as it did after 1918 and 1945. Over one 100 years from the moment the guns fell silent on Armistice Day; let us all unite to pay our Rochdale Borough tribute: we will always remember them.

Lest we forget.

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Steve Rumbelow, Chief Executive Rochdale Borough Council

As we remember the fallen, there are three key points I want to make at this important time of commemoration. The first is, we never forget, which is underlined by the work we do throughout the year to support our armed forces community through a range of pioneering initiatives. Rochdale has led the way in ensuring vital support is in place for the many brave men and women who do so much to protect us.

Secondly, the values of liberty, freedom and democracy - the very essence of our day to day lives – are what our armed forces have always fought to protect and enshrine in our society. For that we owe so much, to so many.

Thirdly, this year’s commemorations are the most important in a long time. We want to send out a clear message that everyone from the armed forces community is in our thoughts at this difficult time, that the borough is united in remembering the fallen and, just like in 1918 and 1945, we can get through these tough times and that better days are ahead.

This Remembrance Sunday we stand together as a town, a borough, a nation to remember. Even though we cannot stand together at services I know many will be paying their respects at home, on their doorsteps. 

We will never forget. We will remember them.

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They shall grow not old, As we that are left grow old;

Age shall not weary them, Nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun, And in the morning,

We will remember them.

- The Exhortation