Devizes Royal British Legion is determined that the fallen will still be remembered in the town on November 8 and has held meetings with Wiltshire Council and Devizes Town Council to make sure its gathering will be Covid-19 secure.

A final rece of the Market Place was held by council officials and British Legion members last week allowing the organisation to put together its plans for the run up to Remembrance Sunday and the day itself.

Devizes Royal British Legion chairman Lt Col (ret) Bobby Haslam said: “This year the Remembrance Sunday commemorations will follow a much different format, but the important thing is that they are going ahead despite events contriving to the alternative.”

Usually hundreds of veterans, serving military personnel, children from uniformed organisations, councillors and dignitaries take part in a march from the Market Place to St John’s Church in Long Street watched by large crowds.

But this year the Act of Remembrance will take place in the Market Place. A spokesman for Devizes Royal British Legion said: “There will still be an Act of Remembrance, however it will be static this year to allow for all present regulations to be adhered to.

“After the act has finished, the wreaths will be laid by a reduced number of official representatives.”

“If anyone else wishes to lay their own wreaths, we ask that you lay them at the War memorial either during week that the Garden of Remembrance is open, or at the actual War Memorial after the parade has ended.” People who want to remember a family member who lost their lives are being asked to leave a small photo at the Garden of Remembrance which will be open from November 2.

A spokesman said: “This year we are asking any visitors to leave behind a small photo of any of their relatives or friends who served in the armed forces and who may have lost their lives in the defence of others”. In this way we will be able to show how this time of the year touches all of us, and how many individuals served.”

The town’s Poppy Appeal is also to go ahead with gazebos at the junction of the Little Brittox and the Garden of Remembrance. There will also be collections at supermarkets and banks. Full details on the town council website.