From an interfaith tribute in Wood Green to wreath-layings across London and Hertfordshire, families, volunteers, councillors and MPs paid their respects on Sunday 8 November.
At Wood Green War Memorial in Haringey, Turkish Cypriot hoca Husayn Hashim stood alongside a Jewish rabbi and an Orthodox Christian priest. The three faith leaders came together in prayer as people gathered on Remembrance Sunday to honour those who served and those who lost their lives.
“One Humanity, One Prayer for Peace,” Hashim wrote in a message on social media accompanying a photograph of the three men. “Today, we stand side by side in a shared prayer for peace, love, understanding and humanity.”
The hoca, who has represented the Turkish Cypriot community at Haringey’s commemorations for many years, ended his message with the words “Peace be upon us all. Amin. Amen.”
Kayahan Beyzade Elliott and Semahat Mustafa laid a wreath at the Wood Green service on behalf of the Turkish Women’s Philanthropic Association (TWPA) and the Turkish Cypriot Remembrance Society. It was one of six wreaths the two organisations laid across London and Hertfordshire on Sunday.
Remembering the people behind the wreaths
For Semahat Mustafa and fellow volunteer Hülya Değirmencioğlu, who laid wreaths at Edmonton Green and in Enfield Town, the tributes were particularly personal. Both their fathers served in the British Army’s Cyprus Regiment during the Second World War. Değirmencioğlu’s mother and father continued working for the British Army long after the war ended.
Turkish Cypriots served with British forces in both world wars. In the First World War, Turkish- and Greek-speaking Cypriot muleteers served with the British Army on the Macedonian Front. During the Second World War, Turkish Cypriots volunteered in their thousands for the Cyprus Regiment, the organisers said. They served alongside Greek Cypriots and other Cypriots in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.
Nurperi Mehmet laid a wreath in Lambeth, while Mine Ekmekçioğlu represented the two organisations in Elstree and Borehamwood. There, Sea Cadets and their drummers led a parade that brought together civic leaders, Army and Air Cadets and children from local primary schools.
In Barnet, TWPA chair and Turkish Cypriot Remembrance Society (TCRS) founder Seyyare Beyzade laid a wreath with her son, Taylan Beyzade Elliott (both pictured top). The Salvation Army band played at the Hendon War Memorial service, where children arrived with parents and teachers to represent their schools.
Tributes in Bromley, Barking, Edmonton and Cheshunt
In Bromley, Cllr Ahmet ‘Andy’ Dourmoush, who is of Turkish Cypriot descent, read a lesson at St Paul’s Church on Crofton Road. He and fellow Turkish Cypriot origin councillor Sheri Isa laid wreaths at the service.
Across the river in East London, Barking MP Nesil Caliskan laid a wreath at the Men of Barking War Memorial Wall in Barking Park, writing on social media afterwards, "This Remembrance Sunday, we remember all those who served and continue to serve in our armed forces. We will never forget those who defended our country and fought for our freedom.”
At Edmonton Green War Memorial, Caliskan’s Labour colleague Enfield North MP Feryal Clark joined Turkish and Kurdish councillors in paying tribute to the fallen. Among those taking part in the ceremony were former Enfield Council leader Cllr Ergin Erbil and Cllr Ahmet Karahasan.
In Cheshunt, Conservative councillor Ersin Celebi attended the Remembrance Sunday service after helping to sell poppies for the Royal British Legion in the days leading up to it.
Passing remembrance on
“Our fathers, mothers, grandparents and great-grandparents were part of Britain’s history,” TCRS founder Beyzade said. “They served alongside their British comrades, and their stories deserve to be remembered.”
For Beyzade, seeing children at the services brought home the importance of involving more young people and Turkish schools in future commemorations.
“Our children should grow up with a sense of pride in their heritage and an understanding of the sacrifices made by previous generations,” she said. “They should know that Turkish Cypriots have played their part too, and that when they wear a poppy, it represents their history as well.”
Cllr Ersin Celebi (in grey coat) takes part in the Remembrance Sunday parade in Cheshunt, 08 Nov. 2026
The TCRS is inviting families to share photographs, documents and memories of relatives who served so it can build a record for future generations. Beyzade also hopes that the community’s contribution will be formally recognised at Britain’s national commemorations.
“My ambition remains to see Turkish Cypriots formally recognised within Britain’s national remembrance commemorations and, one day, to stand together at the Cenotaph in Whitehall,” she said. “We have a history of service that deserves to be acknowledged.”
Lest we forget. Unutmayacağız.
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