Published Friday 6 November 2020 at 14:24
Two moving videos have been created to help commemorate Remembrance in Blackburn with Darwen.
Primary school children from St Antony’s, Blackburn can be seen in this video singing a moving performance ahead of Remembrance Sunday.
Young pupils from St Antony’s have performed the powerful song A Wish for Peace for the fallen ahead of this year’s Remembrance Sunday commemorations.
The inspirational piece was performed and recorded in class as part of the school’s work to help remember.
The Council has also worked with servicemen past and present from The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, the Cathedral’s Dean and both the Blackburn and Darwen branches of the Royal British Legion to create its own act of remembrance, with several generations joining together to commemorate our fallen heroes.
In this video the borough’s incredibly talented bugle player Abbie Naylor is performing the background track, her rendition of the poignant Last Post:
The traditional Remembrance Day procession and wreath laying ceremony had to be cancelled because of Coronavirus restrictions and replaced by alternative acts of Remembrance.
Headteacher Heather McGowan said:
The song lyrics remind us about the brave men and women who have fought in wars to give us a peaceful country to live in. This year, each class has worked to prepare a song, poem or prayer and a piece of artwork which will be recorded into a montage and shared on our school website so that all our community can remember together.
I felt, in this hour of uncertainty with the pandemic, that a virtual performance of this song from our very talented children would be most suitable, and perhaps provide some comfort for our local community too to show that we do care.
Our children love learning about the past and the courage and sacrifice of those who served their country. It’s only right we acknowledge our collective responsibility to work for the peace they fought hard to achieve.
We will be also wearing red accessories, clothes and poppies on Wednesday the 11th to raise money for the British Legion.
Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council’s Mayor Iftakar Hussain, said:
My thanks go to everyone who has taken part to help bring together these virtual commemorations.
As another lockdown is now in place across the nation, it is of utmost importance to still commemorate this day.
This year we cannot parade through the streets, we can’t pray inside places of worship and we can’t gather to lay wreaths. This film and the virtual efforts are our way of remembering those who gave their lives for their country.
Council Leader Mohammed Khan, CBE, added:
The borough has a proud history and association with our armed services and it is important that we remember the sacrifices that many of our town’s men and women gave in conflicts all over the world.
Council Chief Executive Denise Park added:
The advice from the Government is to pay your respects at home and I hope that the people of Blackburn with Darwen will stand proudly at their front doors at 11am on Remembrance Sunday for the two minutes silence which together with the video and live service broadcasts will provide alternative, yet fitting tributes to those that served and sacrificed over the years.
Wreaths will be laid at both Corporation Park and Bold Venture Park in Darwen.
Virtual Remembrance services are being streamed online by Blackburn Cathedral and St Peter’s Church, Darwen.
Other commemorative acts include an array of printed poppies placed on key routes throughout Blackburn with Darwen.
The first of a series of stunning light shows in Blackburn town centre has already started with Remembrance Day commemoration images being beamed onto the front of the town hall. It will be shown every evening from dusk until late until November 11.
The short projection shows pictures of Blackburn soldiers with a soundtrack and poetry recital to honour the fallen and those who continue to serve.
School children across the borough have also been taking part in creative Remembrance activities in class.
And Darwen’s Royal British Legion shared a message calling for residents to help support this year’s poppy appeal.