The Royal British Legion Service of Remembrance, held in St Mary’s Church each year in the afternoon, prior to the Parade and Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial, sadly, cannot take place this year.

This is due to current health and safety requirements, but we shall hold a shortened service at the Swanage War Memorial, with social distancing in place and a small number of wreath layers.

Though Church services have been curtailed, and parades have been cancelled because of the situation we are in, we shall, with the whole nation stand in silence at 11.00 am and 3.00 pm on 8th November (and also at the eleventh hour on Wednesday 11th November) for two minutes.

Because we cannot gather together, we shall do this in our houses or on our doorsteps, and show our respect.

At 3.00 p.m. on Sunday 8th November a bell in the tower of St Mary’s Church will toll to mark the beginning of the silence, and two minutes later it will toll again.

We hope that the short ceremony at the War Memorial with a small number of representative people present will be streamed, in order that it may be watched at home. The sacrifices made by the local men and women will not be forgotten in these strange times for us all, what ever happens
"We Will Remember Them".

The Very Rev. John Mann
Team Rector of Swanage and Studland
Hon. Chaplain to the Royal British Legion in Swanage

Steve Churchill
Swanage Royal British Legion
Branch chairman