Oldham Lib-Dem Leader: Council ‘absolutely must’ cover Remembrance Sunday services online

Councillor Howard Sykes MBE

The Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has written to Oldham Council to urge that Remembrance Sunday services at war memorials across the Borough should this year be filmed and made available online for the public to watch.

In his letter to the Deputy Chief Executive, Helen Lockwood, Cllr Sykes laments that it was impossible to properly mark the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day in May, and this will also be the case with Victory over Japan Day on August 15 because of the coronavirus restrictions preventing large public gatherings. 

Cllr Sykes has asked the Council to now plan for online coverage of the Remembrance Sunday events.

Cllr Sykes said: “In Shaw and Crompton, many hundreds of local people join local councillors, veterans from the Royal British Legion, local clergy and young people from the uniformed services to pay their respects at the Crompton War Memorial to all the servicemen and women who served their country in time of war and sacrificed all. 

"This is also the case at our war memorials elsewhere across the borough.

“This year we are likely to be able to only hold small physical services at each of war memorials, and I want to ensure that no-one will be excluded from participating, despite Covid-19. 

"If we can show these services online, anyone with a computer will be able to participate and they will be able to properly show their respects for the sacrifice others have made in the defence of our freedom.

"If we can allow the public to see council meetings online, we absolutely must do this for our services on Remembrance Sunday.”

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