The Yorkshire Post says: Should shops shut to mark the centenary of the Armistice?

WITH just over 100 days to go until Remembrance Sunday which, by a one-off coincidence of timing, will coincide with the centenary of the First World War coming to an end, commemorative events will have even more poignancy.
By The Newsroom
Published 25th Jul 2018, 18:16 BST
Updated 25th Jul 2018, 18:22 BST

Yet, while the Government wants individual communities to mark the centenary of the Armistice, Ministers have been less forthcoming on whether shops should shut for the day, as is customary on Easter Day, or whether it should be business as usual.

There are now ex-military chiefs who believe that all shops, and other amenities, should stay firmly closed so past sacrifices can be marked by a national day of reflection. Yet others will believe people should be free to spend the day as 
they choose.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Either way, there needs to be some clarity – perhaps half-day opening as a compromise – to avoid any possibility of acts of remembrance on this landmark day being disturbed, or interrupted, by those who might not understand, or appreciate, the occasion’s solemnity and meaning to all those who lost their forebears in battle.

Remembrance Sunday this year coincides with the centenary of the Armistice when the Queen will lead the commemmorations. How should the country mark the anniversary?Remembrance Sunday this year coincides with the centenary of the Armistice when the Queen will lead the commemmorations. How should the country mark the anniversary?
Remembrance Sunday this year coincides with the centenary of the Armistice when the Queen will lead the commemmorations. How should the country mark the anniversary?

THURSDAY’S leaders will also feature the security of MPs, a new threat to frontline policing in Yorkshire and two columnists going head-to-head over the record of Chris Grayling, the under-fire Transport Secretary. See www.yorkshirepost.co.uk for more.

Related topics:Yorkshire PostGovernmentMPsYorkshire