CITY bosses have announced a number of initiatives to mark Remembrance Day as all the events set to be held on council-owned land this year have been cancelled due to the pandemic.

A short ceremony with a few members of the armed forces community will be filmed at different war memorials across Southampton and shared on council social media channels on 8 November at 11.02am.

In a video also set to be shared online by the council, the mayor of Southampton, Cllr Sue Blatchford, will tell the story of The Cenotaph.

It comes as 2020 marks 100 years since the unveiling of the Sir Edward Lutyens designed Cenotaph.

Lamp posts around The Cenotaph will be decorated with poppies and residents have been encouraged to make their own remembrance poppies to display in windows.

Meanwhile, the Southampton 02 Guildhall will be illuminated red on November 8 and 11.

Cllr Satvir Kaur, cabinet member for homes and culture, said: “Southampton played an invaluable role in our war efforts and it is crucial that we continue to come together to remember those that sacrificed so much for our freedoms today. While we cannot all physically be together this year to remember and mark this important annual event, I hope everyone gets involved with poppy displays and joins us on their doorstep for our minute silence on Armistice Day.”

The council is encouraging residents to stand on their doorstep at 11am and honour the 2-minute silence as well as visiting the war memorials in Southampton.

These include the plaque at Town Quay Park, a tree at Mayflower Park to commemorate The Falklands, the Burma Memorial at Grosvenor Square, The Cenotaph in Watts Park and a memorial at Hollybrook Cemetery.

A new Remembrance bench will be unveiled at Veracity Sports Ground between Itchen and Merryoak.

Archie Parsons, from Southampton Royal British Legion, said: “The past continues to have a great impact on the people of Southampton and, on Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day, we reflect and give thanks to all those that played their part in bringing peace and those who helped to re-build our great city to what it is today. We shall be forever thankful to them.”

Residents are being asked to share pictures of their poppy display on social media using the hashtags #NeverForgotten and #SouthamptonRemembers.