Huge crowds gathered on the Angel Hill in Bury St Edmunds to pay tribute to those who lost their lives in war on Remembrance Sunday.

This year marked the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War and the people of Bury turned out in numbers to watch the commemorations.

The parade set off from the Abbey Gardens at 10.30am and marched to the war memorial on Angel Hill as hundreds of spectators who lined the streets looked on.

The two-minute’s silence was impeccably observed before wreaths were laid at the memorial by dignitaries including St Edmundsbury mayor Margaret Marks and Bury St Edmunds Town Council chairman Andrew Speed.

National anthems from both the UK and the United States were played by the band, with a number of American military personnel in attendance at the service.

East Anglian Daily Times: The Bury St Edmunds Remembrance Day parade and wreath laying ceremony on the Angel Hill Picture: ANDY ABBOTTThe Bury St Edmunds Remembrance Day parade and wreath laying ceremony on the Angel Hill Picture: ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)

Loud applause from the large crowd greeted the end of the service as the parade then marched to St Mary’s Church for a service of thanksgiving and commemoration led by the Reverend Nick Alexander.

Paul Hopfensperger, borough and town councillor, tweeted: “Fabulous turnout for Remembrance Day.

“The weather held and the choir sung beautifully at the packed church service.

“A fabulous day to celebrate Armistice 100.”

East Anglian Daily Times: The Bury St Edmunds Remembrance Day parade and wreath laying ceremony on the Angel Hill. Bury St Edmunds Town Council chairman Andrew Speed Picture: ANDY ABBOTTThe Bury St Edmunds Remembrance Day parade and wreath laying ceremony on the Angel Hill. Bury St Edmunds Town Council chairman Andrew Speed Picture: ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)

There was also a Bury St Edmunds connection at the Armistice commemorations at the Cenotaph in London as 98-year-old blind veteran Eric Cook marched on Whitehall.

Mr Cook, a resident at Cornwallis Court in Bury St Edmunds, was joined by 100 other veterans marching with Blind Veterans UK – the national charity for vision-impaired ex-servicemen and women.

He served with 231 Battery, 67th Medium Suffolk Regiment and was deployed to the Middle East via South Africa and Aden in World War Two.

Mr Cook was joined at the service in the capital by his grandson Julian Cook, Warrant Officer 2nd Class, who is bandmaster of the band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines, Plymouth, based in HMS Raleigh.

East Anglian Daily Times: The Bury St Edmunds Remembrance Day parade and wreath laying ceremony on the Angel Hill. Mayor of St Edmundsbury Margaret Marks Picture: ANDY ABBOTTThe Bury St Edmunds Remembrance Day parade and wreath laying ceremony on the Angel Hill. Mayor of St Edmundsbury Margaret Marks Picture: ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)

Mr Cook said: “It was brilliant.

“I chatted with two guardsmen prior to marching on Whitehall.

“It was an absolutely fantastic day for me.”

East Anglian Daily Times: Eric Cook and grandson Julian in London on Remembrance Sunday Picture: RUSSELL COOKEric Cook and grandson Julian in London on Remembrance Sunday Picture: RUSSELL COOK (Image: Archant)

East Anglian Daily Times: Eric Cook marching on Whitehall Picture: RUSSELL COOKEric Cook marching on Whitehall Picture: RUSSELL COOK (Image: Archant)

East Anglian Daily Times: The Bury St Edmunds Remembrance Day parade and wreath laying ceremony on the Angel Hill Picture: ANDY ABBOTTThe Bury St Edmunds Remembrance Day parade and wreath laying ceremony on the Angel Hill Picture: ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)

East Anglian Daily Times: The Bury St Edmunds Remembrance Day parade and wreath laying ceremony on the Angel Hill Picture: ANDY ABBOTTThe Bury St Edmunds Remembrance Day parade and wreath laying ceremony on the Angel Hill Picture: ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)

East Anglian Daily Times: The silence was impeccably observed on Angel Hill in Bury St Edmunds Picture: MICHAEL STEWARDThe silence was impeccably observed on Angel Hill in Bury St Edmunds Picture: MICHAEL STEWARD (Image: Archant)

East Anglian Daily Times: Huge crowds watched this year's Remembrance Day service in Bury St Edmunds Picture: MICHAEL STEWARDHuge crowds watched this year's Remembrance Day service in Bury St Edmunds Picture: MICHAEL STEWARD (Image: Archant)

East Anglian Daily Times: The Bury St Edmunds Remembrance Day parade and wreath laying ceremony on the Angel Hill Picture: ANDY ABBOTTThe Bury St Edmunds Remembrance Day parade and wreath laying ceremony on the Angel Hill Picture: ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)

East Anglian Daily Times: The Bury St Edmunds Remembrance Day parade and wreath laying ceremony on the Angel Hill Picture: ANDY ABBOTTThe Bury St Edmunds Remembrance Day parade and wreath laying ceremony on the Angel Hill Picture: ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)

East Anglian Daily Times: The Bury St Edmunds Remembrance Day parade and wreath laying ceremony on the Angel Hill Picture: ANDY ABBOTTThe Bury St Edmunds Remembrance Day parade and wreath laying ceremony on the Angel Hill Picture: ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)

East Anglian Daily Times: The war memorial in Bury St Edmunds on Remembrance Sunday Picture: MICHAEL STEWARDThe war memorial in Bury St Edmunds on Remembrance Sunday Picture: MICHAEL STEWARD (Image: Archant)

East Anglian Daily Times: The Bury St Edmunds Remembrance Day parade and wreath laying ceremony on the Angel Hill Picture: ANDY ABBOTTThe Bury St Edmunds Remembrance Day parade and wreath laying ceremony on the Angel Hill Picture: ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)

East Anglian Daily Times: The parade marched to the war memorial before the wreath laying ceremony Picture: MICHAEL STEWARDThe parade marched to the war memorial before the wreath laying ceremony Picture: MICHAEL STEWARD (Image: Archant)

East Anglian Daily Times: The parade gets under way for the 2018 Armistice Dat commemorations in Bury St Edmunds. Picture: MICHAEL STEWARDThe parade gets under way for the 2018 Armistice Dat commemorations in Bury St Edmunds. Picture: MICHAEL STEWARD (Image: Archant)

East Anglian Daily Times: The Bury St Edmunds Remembrance Day parade and wreath laying ceremony on the Angel Hill Picture: ANDY ABBOTTThe Bury St Edmunds Remembrance Day parade and wreath laying ceremony on the Angel Hill Picture: ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)

East Anglian Daily Times: The Bury St Edmunds Remembrance Day parade and wreath laying ceremony on the Angel Hill Picture: ANDY ABBOTTThe Bury St Edmunds Remembrance Day parade and wreath laying ceremony on the Angel Hill Picture: ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)

East Anglian Daily Times: The Armistice Day commemorations in Bury St Edmunds. Picture: MICHAEL STEWARDThe Armistice Day commemorations in Bury St Edmunds. Picture: MICHAEL STEWARD (Image: Archant)

East Anglian Daily Times: The Bury St Edmunds Remembrance Day parade and wreath laying ceremony on the Angel Hill Picture: ANDY ABBOTTThe Bury St Edmunds Remembrance Day parade and wreath laying ceremony on the Angel Hill Picture: ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)

East Anglian Daily Times: The Armistice Day commemorations in Bury St Edmunds. Picture: MICHAEL STEWARDThe Armistice Day commemorations in Bury St Edmunds. Picture: MICHAEL STEWARD (Image: Archant)

East Anglian Daily Times: The Bury St Edmunds Remembrance Day parade and wreath laying ceremony on the Angel Hill Picture: ANDY ABBOTTThe Bury St Edmunds Remembrance Day parade and wreath laying ceremony on the Angel Hill Picture: ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)