Coronavirus forces Bedworth Armistice Day parade to be cancelled for the first time ever

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But organisers are determined to still remember the fallen



Bedworth's proud Armistice Day Parade has been cancelled for the first time in its 99 year history.

Upset organisers say the risk of coronavirus and putting people's lives at risk is too great for them to host the event on November 11 this year.

So, for the first time in its near 100 year history, they have been forced to cancel the proud annual event.

But defiant Ken Whitehead, chairman, said they will continue the town's proud history as being the only one outside of London to have observed two minutes silence on the eleventh hour on the eleventh day on the eleventh month since 1923.

"We might have had to cancel the parade but we will still absolutely remember the fallen on that day - we will not break the tradition," he said.

He went on: "We have never had to cancel before, ever in our 99 year history, but we will hopefully be back next year, on what is our 100th year."

The Armistice group chairman added: "We had a letter off the council to say, what with the coronavirus, they could not guarantee the police support, road closures that sort of thing.

"Plus, you can't have gatherings of more than 30 people, we get 5,000 people turn up every year so we had an emergency meeting.

"We decided not to say 'stuff it' and go-ahead anyway, we do not want to put one life at risk, we couldn't bear the thought of that."

But, he is determined that the Armistice Day tradition will continue and is asking people to join in

"We still want everyone to have a two minute silence at 11am on the 11th," he said.

"We are hopefully going to get something to the schools so that kids can do something to put in their windows, a bit like they did with the rainbows for the NHS, to show that they still remember.

"It is still so important for us to remember the fallen."

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Will Christmas be cancelled too?

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Prime Minister challenged by Bedworth Armistice to change 'unfair' Remembrance Day event rules



Bedworth's proud Armistice Day parade organisers have challenged the Prime Minister to re-evaluate rules over Remembrance events following backlash from the public.

Upset organisers have faced criticism for their decision to cancel this Armistice Day parade over coronvirus concerns and the rules surrounding gatherings of no more than 30 people.

The event in Bedworth is the second biggest in the country, and is the only one outside of London to have observed two minutes silence on the eleventh hour on the eleventh day on the eleventh month since 1923.

Ths year it was supposed to be broadcast live from big screens around the town and was supposed to be the "biggest for the Armistice event ever".

Mark Welch, a former member of the committee, has written to local MPs Craig Tracey and Marcus Jones asking them to contact Prime Minister Boris Johnson to ask him to re-evalulate the rules for Remembrance events.

They want changes across the country, not just locally.

"Remembrance is a huge affair right across the country, and affects millions who pay their respects, and it simply doesn't seem fair game to have this cancelled when so many are being allowed to flock to the seaside beaches with no restrictions being adhered too whatsoever," Mr Welch said.

"Too much painstaking work goes into running such an event to have this brushed aside so easily."

"The decision to cancel this public parade and service has been received by the townsfolk with bitter resentment," he said.

"Many have viewed this as a very lame reason as in the past not even the Second World War managed to do this in the height of battle.

"However, for the controlling committee the emphasis first and foremost is safety of all in attendance.

"Planning for this is difficult in any normal year, but with the Covid virus is totally impossible.

"I received an email and telephone call from the Chairman, and the disappointment was very clear in his voice. And, being a Bedworthian, I really sympathise with him and the committee right now.

"I’m frustrated too, but also fully aware of the situation being faced and the magnitude of what this means to Bedworth, and they really had no choice as I can see myself, and Bedworth will feel saddened by this decision."