SEVERAL thousand people across West Wiltshire braved the cold on Sunday to commemorate those who lost their lives while serving their country.
They took part in Remembrance Sunday services across the county, including Trowbridge, Bradford on Avon, Melksham, Warminster and Westbury.
In Trowbridge, more than 2,000 people lined the streets to watch the annual march past from St James’ Church to the town’s war memorial in the town park.
The parade was jointly organised by Trowbridge Town Council and the local branch of the Royal British Legion and involved short road closures.
Trowbridge RBL branch honorary secretary Rick Owen said afterwards: “The Parade, service and the Act of Remembrance in the Town Park yesterday went like clockwork and the rain kept off!
“While the poppy 'totals' will be sorted over the next week or so, all the signs are that we had another excellent collection - please be patient if you want to know how much your tin collected!
“It was just amazing to see and speak to our volunteers, more than ever this year - making it so easy for everyone.
“Last year we welcomed the three cadet organisations back for the first time following the 'Covid years' - and this year they were even bigger and better than ever.
“What an amazing turnout - all of the young men and women are a shining example of their age and we are so pleased they live in our area.”
Cllr Stewart Palmen, the leader of Trowbridge Town Council, said: “One of the most powerful aspects of the Trowbridge Remembrance Service at the war memorial was for me The Blessing which included the request to "Render to no man Evil for Evil" which is something the world needs to hear and act on now.”
The Remembrance Service featured readings and prayers by Reverend Jake Eggertsen, Rector of St James’ Church, the exhortation and the Kohima Epitaph by Trowbridge RBL Branch chair Captain Roy Zaman and an address by Branch president Air Vice Marshal Martin Clark.
The Trowbridge Salvation Army Band, under the direction of their bandmaster Marston Blake and their commanding officer Michala Lancefield, and The Grove School Choir also took part.
The parade included young people from the Wiltshire Army Cadets, 2196 Trowbridge Squadron Air Training Corps and sea cadets from HMS Achilles, the Trowbridge training ship.
Afterwards, poppy wreaths were laid by various individuals and organisations at the foot of the Trowbridge War Memorial. They included Wiltshire's Lord Lieutenant Mrs Sarah Rose Troughton and Trowbridge Mayor Cllr Stephen Cooper.
In Warminster, around 1,800 attended a service led by Rev Sue Foster, Rector of The River Were Churches.
Warminster town crier Rick Johnston, bagpiper Millie Scott, also took part and the town’s mayor Cllr Phil Keeble, gave a welcome and introduction.
The service included veterans from Warminster Branch of the Royal British Legion, plus serving members of the Warminster Garrison, and representatives of the Yorkshire Regiment, the Yorkshire branch of the Royal Green Jackets Association, the Royal Irish Rangers Association, and the RBL Bikers.
Warminster RBL Branch president Dr Andrew Murrison gave the readings of the Exhortation and the Kohima Epitaph and the Warminster Military Wives Choir sang ‘Brave’ by Laura Wright.
Poppy wreaths were laid by various individuals and organisations at the foot of the Warminster War Memorial.
They included one from the government laid by Dr Murrison, the town’s MP; one laid by Wiltshire’s Deputy Lord Lieutenant Luke March, and one from the RBL laid by Warminster Branch chairman Andy Clark.
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