Hundreds of people lined the streets of Bury St Edmunds this morning to pay their respects to members of the Armed Forces, past and present, and to remember those who lost their lives fighting for their country.
The chilly but bright weather provided perfect conditions for the annual Remembrance Day parades and services which are taking place in several communities across the west of the county today, including a major event in Bury St Edmunds.
The proceedings began as a civic procession left the Athenaeum on route to the War Memorial on Angel Hill. The procession paused at the Abbeygate where local dignitaries were joined by veterans and standards who had formed in the Abbey Gardens.
At the war memorial, a service was led by Reverend Canon Malcolm Rogers, Vicar of St Marys Church, who said how heartening it was to see so many people gathered together to “remember those who made the supreme sacrifice for us in the times of war”. He asked God to grant success to those who continue to work for peace.
The last post sounded before the crowds fell silent at 11am for two minutes.
The silence was broken by the sound of two Apache helicopters from Wattisham Flying Station carrying out a traditional flypast - see our gallery for photos.
Wreathes were laid at the memorial by representatives from the armed forces, police force and other bodies.
The salute was taken by the Lord Lieutenant’s representative, Major-General John Sutherell, along with the Mayor of St Edmundsbury Terry Buckle, RAF Station Commander, Group Captain Scott Miller, and 3AAC Commanding Officer Lt Col Tom de la Rue, before the parade headed off towards St Mary’s Church for a civic service.
Among the crowds gathered along the route were Mark Snelling and his young family, who were attending the parade for the first time.
He told the EADT: “We felt that with all that is going on in the world at the moment in terms of conflicts, it is getting more and more important to let our armed forces know that people are behind them supporting them.”
Veteran Tom Hague, who was once in the RAF based at Honnington and is involved with the charity Help For Heroes, had travelled from Cleethorpes for the event.
He said: “I like to support my old 15 Squadron in everything they do because it is such a difficult job. It is good to see so many people here today – especially young people and children – giving their support. It shows it is as relevant to the current generation as it is to mine.”
Commemorations got underway in Bury yesterday afternoon with a Remembrance wreath laying observance in the Abbey Gardens.
A civic procession lead by the Mayor left the Unitarian Meeting House and progressed down Churchgate Street past the Norman Tower into the Cathedral precinct to the Rose Memorial.
The mayor’s chaplain, Reverend Canon Jonathan Alderton Ford, conducted services with wreath laying at the 94th Bombardment Group Memorial, Dunkirk Memorial,
Normandy Veterans Memorial and the Royal Anglian Memorial.
Meanwhile in Sudbury this afternoon, a parade led by members of the Colchester and District Pipes and Drums and US Airforce personnel from RAF Mildenhall marched from Market Hill down Gainsborough Street to the British and American War Memorials for a wreath laying ceremony, followed by a service at St Gregory’s Church. Joining the procession was south Suffolk MP Tim Yeo, Lord Andrew Phillips and other local dignitaries. Sudbury mayor Adrian Osborne said: “Next year is the 100th anniversary of the First World War so it is more relevant than ever that youngsters find out what Remembrance Day is all about.”
Parades and services also took place in outlying villages including Lavenham and Long Melford.
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