Remembrance Day has been a completely different experience this year – what would usually be a day filled with crowds gathering to remember the sacrifices made was unable to take place.

However, that did not stop people in Carlisle from paying their respects in their own unique and socially-distanced ways.

Across the county, and country, people have expressed their desire to mark this important time in any way possible.

In the city centre, plenty of wreaths were placed on the war memorial by members of the Armed Forces as well as the mayor of Carlisle.

It was not an organised event but people still turned up to pay their respects.

The Mayor of Carlisle, councillor Marilyn Bowman, said: “There were some changes to the usual Remembrance Sunday commemorations in Carlisle city centre this year.

“However, the important commemoration was still marked.

“We’re committed to supporting the Armed Forces and encourage our communities to continue to support the Poppy Appeal as we recognise the contribution that the Armed Forces continue to provide to our lives.”

The Carlisle branch of the Royal British Legion pre-recorded a half-hour service that people could watch on Remembrance Day on Wednesday and on Remembrance Sunday.

The Rev Keith Teasdale led the service and Major Paul Chandler, the president of the branch, gave a reading.

Mr Teasdale talked about the graves of soldiers from the city and how the day is typically marked each year.

Tony Parrini, a member of the Carlisle branch, said: “As we did for VE and VJ Day when we couldn’t commemorate it, the branch ensured that efforts were made to record virtual events.

“Mr Teasdale and Paul Chandler, the president of the branch, recorded a service which was circulated to all members and made public in time for Remembrance Sunday.”

Remembrance is an incredibly personal thing, it is something that changes from person to person and in absence of a city-wide commemorative event, residents marked both Remembrance Sunday and Remembrance Day in their own ways.

Many people stood on their doorsteps at 11am on Sunday and Wednesday to take part in the two minutes silence in memory of those who gave their lives.

Some had the Last Post playing and many had their poppies pinned to their chests.

Veterans, who usually walk in the parade, proudly wore their medals.

Others decorated their houses or local area with poppies – drawings of poppies, hand-made poppies, or rocks with poppies drawn on them.

The Heathlands Centre painted rocks with poppies which were then laid at six war memorials across the city area: Stanwix, Houghton, Scaleby, Longtown, Blackford and Rockcliffe.

At Trinity School, more than two thousand poppies, each bearing the names of a fallen soldier, were strung up throughout the school.

The message from the city was loud and clear – the memory of the sacrifices made has not been forgotten.

Mr Parrini said: “I just think that you cannot erase the memory of those veterans, of all vintages, who lost pals, friends, and colleagues in defence of the country or in the pursuit of peace.

“Whether that is the remaining veterans for World War Two or people that have been involved in recent conflicts.

“It’s just important, whatever vintage they are, that these remembrance events continue, and never stop.”