A parade and two minutes of silence in remembrance of men and women who lost their lives serving in wars, took place across the country on Remembrance Sunday, 10th November, the closest Sunday to Armistice Day. Royals, Veterans, Politicians, Scouts, Clerks and civilians joined local events held for those who paid the ultimate price and sacrificed their lives for our freedom.

Cypriot volunteers fought during World War II in British Army regiments and the Cyprus Regiment, a specific military unit of the British Army. The Cyprus Regiment consisted of Cypriot volunteers during WWII, who bravely fought at the Western Front. It was praised by Sir Winston Churchill in 1943 who said “soldiers of the Cyprus Regiment who have served honourably on many fields from Libya to Dunkirk”. In total, 16k Cypriot nationals fought in WWI and 30k in WWII, in addition to the diaspora Cypriots who fought in other British regiments.
Representatives of the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK attended Remembrance Services across north London to pay their respects to those who fell during the World Wars and other conflicts, by laying wreaths.

The President, Christos Karaolis, attended the annual Service of Remembrance at Barnet Council. He was joined by the Executive Secretary, Andreas Karaolis and President of the Rizokarpasso Association, Mary Karaolis. Present at the Barnet Remembrance Sunday service was the Worshipful Mayor Barnet, Cllr Tony Vourou; the Leader of Barnet Council, Cllr Barry Rawlings; and the MP for Hendon, David Pinto-Duschinksy.

Member of the Federation’s Executive, Susie Constantinides MBE laid a wreath at the War Memorial in Haringey, along with the Mayor of Haringey Cllr Sue Jameson; the Leader of the Council Cllr Peray Ahmet; the MP of Southgate and Wood Green, Bambos Charalambous; the Chair of the Cypriot Women’s League, Evoulla Nicolaou; and the President of the Greek Orthodox Communities in the UK, Marios Minaides.

The Federation’s Assistant Executive Secretary, Elisavet Parpi, attended the service of Remembrance and laid a wreath at the Edmonton War Memorial. The Ceremony was also attended by the Mayor of Enfield, Cllr Mohammad Islam; the Leader of the Enfield Council, Cllr Ergin Erbil; former MP Andy Love and former Mayor of Enfield, George Savva, and others.

           

Christos Tuton, the President of NEPOMAK, attended Islington’s Remembrance commemorations at Islington Green War Memorial. The Mayor of Islington, Cllr Anjna Khurana, was also joined by the Leader of Islington Council, Kaya Comer-Schwartz; Emily Thornberry MP, Jeremy Corbyn MP and a number of councillors.