'Stop, Think, Reflect' Says The Isle Of Wight Reserves On Remembrance Sunday

The Isle of Wight Reserves who stepped in to support St Mary’s Hospital at the start of the pandemic are hoping the Island will "stop, think and reflect" today (Sunday).

This year is the 75th anniversary of World War Two and although Remembrance will be a little different this year - we are still being asked to observe two minutes silence at 11am.

Sargent Matthew Symmans spoke to Isle of Wight Radio on behalf of the Isle of Wight Reserves ahead of Remembrance Day.

He said it is a “shame” the usual parade can’t take place but you can still remember those who fought and died and those who are still serving in the Armed Forces in a variety of ways at home or virtually.

He said:

“You can still remember in many different ways whether it’s doing it from your doorstep, whether it’s doing something in your garden with your family or something virtual online. Or even if its the case of doing something individually to go off and remember family members or loved ones that have been off in past conflicts or current conflicts.

“There are loads of different ways of doing Remembrance and we would still encourage people to remember...Just to be able to take stock and just to take two minutes out to stop, think and reflect I think is quite an important thing to go and do.”

The Isle of Wight Reserves were called up to volunteer in April and create capacity for 200 additional beds at the Isle of Wight NHS Trust - should they be needed.

The Reserves cleared the medical records office and relocated it to another site, allowing contractors the opportunity to create the additional space.

More recently, the Isle of Wight NHS Trust announced an additional ICU Unit has opened at the site, to care for those who have not tested positive for coronavirus.

You can watch a video of the Isle of Wight Reserves that was filmed back in April here. 

The Island’s Lord-Lieutenant Susie Sheldon said:

“In a way, this Remembrance Sunday may be very very special because of the simplicity of it and I would encourage Islanders to think of in those terms, this is a very simple act of Remembrance we are going to do this year.”

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The Government Guidance for this year's Remembrance Sunday states:

Event organisers should keep numbers of those participating in the event to a minimum. 

For the avoidance of doubt, the following people are legally permitted to attend events to commemorate Remembrance Sunday as participants.

Attendees should observe social distancing at all times. Attendees should also take advantage of opportunities for wreath layers to represent wider groups.

• people attending as part of their work (such as local councillors, local faith leaders, the local MP)
• people attending in a voluntary capacity on behalf of a recognised organisation
• members of the armed forces
• veterans of the armed forces, and/or their representatives or carers

Members of the public are legally permitted to stop and watch the event as spectators, but event organisers should take reasonable steps to discourage the public from attending events and be mindful of the risk that such events pose, especially to veterans who are often elderly.

Where members of the public do attend, they must only attend the event with their own household or those in their support bubble, or one other person (children under school age, as well as those dependent on round-the-clock care, such as those with severe disabilities, who are with their parents, will not count towards the limit on 2 people meeting outside) and observe social distancing rules.

Read the guidance in full here.