THE people of Maldon have been asked to pay their respects to the town's war heroes by remembering their sacrifices from the safety of their own homes this year.

Maldon Town Council has appealed to residents to stay at home on Remembrance Sunday ( 8 November) and watch a broadcast of the service, as well as a special video to mark the occasion as it is the 75TH anniversary of the end of World War Two.

The town's usual Remembrance Sunday parade and service, which draws huge town centre crowds at the High Street memorial and outside Moot Hall, will not happen in the same way this year due to Covid-19 pandemic restrictions. The age of the surviving Second World War veterans has been of particular concern.

In a statement released this morning (Thursday, 17 September) by Maldon Town Council, a spokesperson said: "It has been decided that this year it would not be safe or responsible to hold the normal commemoration."

Maldon Nub News reported two weeks ago how the town council was seeking veterans of World War Two to make pre-recorded interviews about their wartime experiences for a video to mark the occasion. The broadcast will include interviews with veterans as well as a special tribute to those from the town who died in the 1939-1945 war.

The town council spokesperson added: " A pre-recorded service will be broadcast on the town council's YouTube channel at 11 am on Remembrance Sunday, which will also include snippets of history, photographs, the names of the fallen from World war Two and interviews with veterans.

"Please join in with us in observing the silence at 11am from the safety of your own homes on this important day of commemoration.

"The town council looks forward to 2021 and being able to commemorate 100 years since Maldon's war memorial was dedicated and the Maldon & Heybridge Branch of the Royal British Legion was established."

The Remembrance Sunday broadcast and recording will be available on Maldon Town Council's YouTube Channel here.

Organisations are encouraged to contribute a video of themselves laying their wreath in a place of significance to them before Remembrance Sunday which can then be included in the broadcast. Video clips should be sent to the Town Clerk by Thursday, 22 October for inclusion.

For further information contact the Town Clerk by emailing here or telephone 01621 857373.