Additional reporting by Joanna Lonergan
Every year since 1919, crowds would gather at Islington Green to honour the sacrifice of our Armed Forces in World War One. Last Sunday’s service, however, in Upper Street looked different. Just a small crowd of fewer than 100 people gathered to watch community leaders, veterans and representatives from military organisations lay their wreaths at Islington Green War Memorial.
Led by Reverend Nigel Williams, Chaplain to the Islington Veterans’ Association, the ceremony included pre-recorded messages from faith leaders and a prayer “for the bereaved, the disabled, those in pain, those traumatised and all those who continue to suffer the consequences of fighting and terror”.
Among the attendees were Mayor of Islington Janet Burgess, Islington South and Finsbury MP Emily Thornberry, Representative Deputy Lieutenant for Islington Dr Charles Goodson-Wickes, the borough council’s Armed Forces Champion Gary Poole, and veteran Ron Hall.
Mayor Burgess told Islington Now: “It was so quiet because the police stopped traffic for five minutes. We could hear the guns from the Horse Guards Parade which was special – knowing that people across London were getting together to remember.”
After the national anthem was played at the end of the ceremony, veteran David Dade, standard bearer and parade marshal, thanked the crowd for their support.
Dade said: “I meant that sincerely because they didn’t have to come, they were told not to come, the papers told them they couldn’t get into the Green but they still turned up.”
Although he was pleased to see the day commemorated, Dennis Sharrocks, Chairman of Islington Veterans’ Association, expressed his regret that veterans could not take part “as they usually do”.
One local resident said: “I think a lot of people will feel like this year everything has pushed the day to the back of people’s mind, so it’s good to see places celebrating as best they can.”
Across the borough, the usual processions and communal services were replaced with small, socially distanced ceremonies, with other services held at Spa Green and Manor Gardens.
Islington North MP Jeremy Corbyn attended the Manor Gardens service, and the Deputy Mayor of the borough, Troy Gallagher, was at Spa Green.
Islington Town Hall was lit up in red from Remembrance Sunday until Tuesday night, and a closed ceremony took place at the Town Hall war memorial yesterday to mark Armistice Day.
Although they could not attend services in person, people were encouraged to mark the day at home and observe a two-minute silence at 11am. A video of the Islington Green Remembrance Sunday service has also been made available on the Islington Veterans’ Association’s Facebook Page.
