Remembrance Sunday - Admission Chaos.

[10ClarionSt]

The RBL got this wrong, big time. It's difficult to criticise the RBL because they do a great job for veterans. Admission was via Admiralty Arch only. Whitehall and Birdcage Walk were closed. I don't know if anyone else on here was there yestrday, but when I got to Trafalgar Square at 08.45, there was a huge queue from the arch back into the square and up the Strand. Something wasn't working. It seems that, despite thousands of attendees, there was only one admission gate for scanning and security checks. And the queue was getting longer as the parade time approached. In the end, they just let everyone through with minimum checking. But as I said to one chap, the important thing is that we are here to remember and pay our respects to the fallen. We can do that at any time, anywhere. My own feeling about the RBL Remembrance Parade is that it is having less of an impact on the public in general. I hope I'm wrong about that because it's all about respect for the dead. It would be a shame to see it fading from prominence.

[naomi24]

I see lots of poppies pinned to coats. Why do you think it's fading?

[10ClarionSt]

One reason is the RBL itself. They are now restricting the numbers and making it difficult for relatives and associations to attend. We normally have a contingent of 30, but this time we were restricted to 8. The parade was not as well attended as in previous years. If you look at the TV shots from above Horseguards, it's only got half the attendance of previous years. This isn't anything to do with Covid. I realise lots of people wear poppies, but I don't think it would bother them if there were no remembrance services.

[davebro]

It's not all about that London.

[Spicerack]

Perhaps what happened in Liverpool had some bearing.
Not sure of the timeline to be honest.

[naomi24]

Spice, that bomb in Liverpool exploded at about 11am - the same time as the silences around the country so that couldn't have affected attendance at the Cenotaph.

[theshedman]

Our local service had a lot more people this year, maybe it was the fact that the weather was good but very well attended. The only thing was that there was no gun to start the silence or to finish it which I felt was strange, just a bloke who pointed at the bugler.

[anneasquith]

I do feel sorry for the veterans who queue up for hours to ‘ March past’ . They are the VIPs of this occasion. Sadly now taken over by the royal family and an annual fashion parade.
Waiting in wheelchairs, in the cold and rain , no cosy wee balcony for them, or whisked away for a nice lunch afterwards. Shame on this country, the veterans are the survivors , treated like cattle .
Well done clarion for making the journey yesterday .

[naomi24]

How do you think it should be organised, anneasquith?

[Bobbisox1]

Where was this fashion parade you speak of AnnieA?
3 women dressed accordingly in black was a fashion parade? or was this your usual pop at the Royal Family ?

[naomi24]

Yes, it is her usual pop at the Royal Family, bobbi - and at this country.

[Bobbisox1]

Especially given it was neither cold or wet yesterday !

[rowanwitch]

I think a lot of people are simply avoiding crowds, even in the fresh air large numbers make some folk nervous now, so I think it is just a covid hangover.

[naomi24]

I think so too, Rowan - and with crowds of that size security arrangements and the delays they incur have to be expected. Organising something like that is no mean feat!

[drmorgans]

I think Armistice Day ceremonies have taken on more significance in recent years. They used to be quite low-key but now local ceremonies are well-attended.

[10ClarionSt]

Thanks for the replies folks. I appreciate them all. I still think the parade will have less significance in the future. At the moment, there are many people whose parents, aunts and uncles served and died in WW2, so there is more of a direct connection and a realisation of what it meant to those people. Having said that, my dad was very scornful of Remembrance Sunday. He was a WW2 veteran of the Royal Navy. He would never tell me why he felt that way, and I asked him many times. We also have a greatly reduced miltary now, so there will be fewer veterans in the future. I hope I'm wrong about it. Time will tell. Thanks again.

[barry1010]

There was a fantastic turnout at my local parade and service. I wasn't able to go but I have seen many photos and heard all about it.

[tamborine]

Being a brit-brat I watched on tv, more for the bands playing songs we learned in school.

I was surprised to see boy scouts, cubs, sea rangers & military orphan kids in the marching past.