Poppies painted in Tameside towns for Remembrance Day

Poppies have been painted on the road in each of Tameside's nine towns ahead of Remembrance Day.

The council say the painted flowers, which are accompanied by the words ‘Lest we forget’, are part of the borough's plans to remember differently this year so that people can pay tribute while also staying safe and adhering to government regulations to not attend gatherings.

Denton's poppy has been painted on Lance Corporal Andrew Breeze Way, which was named in honour of the former Audenshaw School pupil who was tragically killed in an explosion in Helmand Province in June 2010.

Tameside Council Executive Leader Cllr Brenda Warrington said: “As we are all having to remember differently this year, I’m pleased these painted poppies will provide an enduring tribute in all of our towns to the fallen and give all of our residents an additional opportunity to recognise and remember the contribution made by all of the borough’s service men and women past and present.

"The poppy on Lance Corporal Andrew Breeze Way in Denton is particularly poignant in reminding us of the sacrifices made by members of our own community.

"I urge everyone to make keeping themselves and others safe from covid a priority when remembering this year. Please do not gather at 11am at cenotaphs and memorials – there are lots of other ways you can safely join the nation and your local community in paying your respects." 

Tameside Council is asking residents to mark the two-minutes silence at 11am on Remembrance Day from their doorsteps as part of a national campaign to show pride and appreciation similar to the claps for key workers in the spring.

Tameside Local Studies and Archives is also hosting '11 Days of Remembrance', putting daily stories taken from the Manchester Regiment Archive on social media. 

Dukinfield Town Hall is to be floodlit in red over remembrance weekend.

Craft activities such as how to make a window poppy are available at www.tameside.gov.uk/culturecrafts, while the council’s culture service has created a video, marking the contribution made by the borough’s servicemen and women, which will be streamed online.

The council say that any members of the public wishing to lay wreaths are free to do so but are strongly urged to avoid 11am on Remembrance Sunday or Armistice Day. Instead, they are asked to find another time to pay their respects, quietly and while adhering to Covid-19 social-distancing guidelines. They add that the borough has many memorials that were built by smaller communities, away from town centres, which are ideal for personal reflection.