THE sun shone down on the people who gathered in their hundreds in and around St Mary's church in Calne on Sunday to commemorate the centenary of the end of World War I and to remember those who did not return to their Wiltshire homes.

The official events for Remembrance Day began when dignitaries assembled at the Town Hall at 9.15am, joined by Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire and Olympic medallist David Hemery and representatives from Calne's twin towns, Eningen in Germany and Caln, Pennsylvania.

The procession to the church was led by members of the Calne branch of the Royal British Legion, and also included representatives from police, fire and ambulance services, as well as youth organisations.

The Rev Bob Kenway made the address during the service at the church. The Mayor of Calne, Coun Glenis Ansell, who read one of the lessons, said:

"The service was so lovely. The church was packed, and people were also standing outside."

Following the service, the town looked on as wreaths were laid at the war memorial, by the organisations and groups at the ceremony, including the mayor and visitors from the twin towns, as the gathering remembered the fallen.

A march past followed, and a salute was taken by Calne Town Council and the Royal British Legion outside the library in the centre of Calne.

Afterwards, around 200 people gathered at the town hall for refreshments in the style of a 1940s street party - complete with music, themed decorations and tables laden with sandwiches, cakes and tea.

Coun Ansell said the event had been a deeply moving experience, and that it was a challenge maintaining her composure while reading the lesson during the service.

"I was so impressed with Calne," she said. "You can't help but that that while people were celebrating the end of the war, so many people could not celebrate. You look at the war memorial and see groups of names from one family and realise how many lost a brother, a son, a father, an uncle.

"It was absolutely amazing to see how many were there and played their part.

"I was so proud of Calne, and humbled too."

The backdrop to the march past was the mass of poppies flowing along Beach Terrace, by the river. The display was made up of hundreds of handmade poppies, created by children from local schools and pre-schools, each inscribed with a name from the town’s war memorial or of a person connected to the child’s family. The display was put in place by personnel from MOD Lyneham.