Thousands turn out for Remembrance Sunday services

They came in their thousands across greater Bristol to remembers those who died to preserve our freedom.

And the rain fell on Remembrance Sunday services as if on cue to mirror their tears.

Every year people in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire have gathered to honour the fallen.

But this year with the number of soldiers killed in Afghanistan now at 240, the Remembrance Day parades were particularly meaningful for many.

Families with sons and grandsons currently serving in the conflict stood shoulder to shoulder with those who lived through World War Two and those who came to remember relatives who lost their lives in The Falklands, Northern Ireland, Bosnia, the first Gulf war and Iraq.

Poppies were proudly on show on berets, on uniforms, on lapels and on the hoodies worn by teenagers, conscious perhaps that the soldiers being killed and injured are not much older than they are.

In Bristol city centre people were four-deep behind the barriers and watching from balconies as the Salvation Army Bristol Easton Band came marching down to the cenotaph from Colston Street.

When they were in place the parade set off from College Green led by Royal Marines Reserves wearing their black dress uniforms with white pith helmets.

These are men who have civilian jobs but undergo rigorous Royal Marines training at weekends. Many of them have served in Afghanistan with their regular counterparts and expect to go on frontline operations once again next year.

Thirty members of the Clifton-based unit formed an honour guard and around 80 others also took part.

They were followed by a host of other military units including the Royal Naval Reserve (HMS Flying Fox), army and air cadets.

Personnel from the Royal Naval Reserves, Bristol University Air Squadron, the Territorial Army's 39 Signals Regiment and the Royal Marines Reserves stood at the four corners of the cenotaph as sentries.

The City of Bristol Pipes and Drums, playing stirring marching music, were followed by 13 standard bearers and the World War Two veterans, four of them in wheelchairs.

Then came fire fighters in ceremonial dress with silver axes in their belts and police carrying ornate maces.

The Lord Mayor of Bristol Chris Davies arrived by horse-drawn carriage escorted by eight mounted policemen, followed by civic dignitaries and representatives of the judiciary.

Once everyone was in position the Territorial Army's 266 Commando Battery Royal Artillery fired a single round to mark the beginning of the two minute silence at 11am and another to mark the end.

The Last Post was played by a bugler from the Royal Marines Band and then president of the Royal British Legion recited Laurence Binyon's 'Ode to the Fallen'.

A piper from the City of Bristol Pipes and Drums played a lament and the president recited the Kohima Epitaph.

Wreaths were then laid on the cenotaph by representatives from the armed forces.

The Bishop of Bristol Mike Hill then said a prayer for all those who suffer as a result of war, those who have died and those who loved them and remember them and those who are in danger today.

There followed readings from the Holy Qur'an, the Sikh prophets. A representative of the Jewish community read Isaiah 9 verses 1- 6 from the Old Testament and a representative from the Bristol Free Churches gave a reading from John 15, verses 9 - 17 from the New Testament.

The public was then invited to join in the hymn O God, our help in ages past.

The Bishop of Clifton said a prayer in which he spoke of the men and women who today stand in danger while following their calling.

He said: "They honour those who have gone before, too many of whom were called to give their lives."

The crowd joined in The Lord's Prayer before the Reveille was played and God Save The Queen was sung.

As the procession made its way back to College Green all the units taking part received applause from the crowd. It was a gesture of gratitude for the continuing sacrifice made by the armed services.

Matt Hunt, 42, of Langford, a fireman who has been in the Royal Marines Reserves since 1985, said he was proud to be in the parade and was thinking of a friend Simeon 'Fez' Ferrante, a member of the RMR who died in a parachuting accident.

Many of those taking part were remembering mates who had died in Afghanistan.

Jon Caves, 31, of Clifton, said: "We lost two lads in Nadi Ali, Marines Georgie Sparks and Tony Evans."

But he said the men who volunteered were not afraid of the risks.

He said: "The majority of the lads, once they go through training, they want to get out there or what's the point."

Robert Cooper, 38, from Staple Hill, a staff nurse in civilian life, joined the RMR when he was unable to join the regular Royal Marines because of a shoulder injury.

He served in Afghanistan in 2007 and last year and yesterday he was thinking of lost comrades Lieutenant John Thornton and Marine Dave Marsh.

Their commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Steve Corbidge said: "It is the first time for a number of years that we have had the honour of leading the Remembrance Day parade in Bristol.

"We really don't do it very often so it's more poignant for a number of our personnel in the unit. Over recent years we have regularly been deployed in operations with our regular counterparts.

"We have experienced the loss of comrades and this is our opportunity to remember them appropriately."

Mrs Pat Francis from Stockwood watched the parade with her daughter in law Nadine Francis and grandson Ryan, 19 months.

Nadine is married to Pat's son Liam, 26, an army chef cuffently serving on a forward operations base in Afghanistan.

Mrs Francis senior said: "This is the first year I have been to the city centre on Remembrance Day. I usually go to my local church. I just wanted a bit more this year."

Former printer Philip Greyn, 54, from Brislington, was also in the crowd. He said: "Nobody I know was in the war but I always like to attend Remembrance Day."

Retired builder Patrick Boyse, 74, from Shirehampton, never misses a Remembrance Day parade either.

Mr Boyse served in the merchant navy for six years and was in the army during the Suez Crisis.

His grandson Tristan Wootton, 25, is a captain in the Royal Engineers.

He said: "He will have been married a year next month. He's a wonderful boy, a born leader. We are very proud of him."

South Gloucestershire is a long way from Camp Bastion to Staple Hill but the Afghanistan conflict was close in the minds of the hundreds who attended the annual Remembrance Sunday parade in Page Park.

The deaths of soldiers in Helmand province were in many people's thoughts as wreaths were laid at the war memorial in tribute to those who died for their country in the two world wars and in the many battle zones since.

Wooden crosses placed by members of the public before and after the ceremony were dedicated to the memory of people from Staple Hill, Downend and Soundwell who were killed at Ypres, the Somme and in naval battles in the Second World War. Many bore touching personal handwritten messages, reminding onlookers that each had been someone's son.

The solemn tribute began with a procession from the Royal British Legion headquarters in Kendall Road. Led by the Salvation Army band, it included services veterans, medals shining on their chests. Many marched proudly, as they have no doubt done every November for decades. A few were in wheelchairs, but determined not to miss this annual honouring of their fallen comrades.

The parade included civic dignitaries and representatives of the police and fire service, as well as scores of uniformed youngsters including members of the air cadets, St John Ambulance, cubs, brownies, scouts and guides.

Dozens of people watched the march along the High Street and Broad Street. Babes in arms and children in dressing gowns were brought out to see the procession and the congregations from Staple Hill Methodist Church and the Salvation Army turned out too.

At the park, the assembled crowd joined in the singing of O God Our Help in Ages Past and Abide With Me.

The familiar words – being repeated at countless similar ceremonies across the area Bristol and the rest of the country – were spoken: They shall not grow old as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn, At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We will remember them.

A soft rain began to fall as the band struck up The Last Post before the two minutes' silence. Then, while the last autumn leaves were falling softly from the trees, a succession of wreaths was laid by, among others, South Gloucestershire Council chairman Councillor Shirley Holloway, Kingswood MP Roger Berry, and representatives of the armed forces, police, fire service and uniformed organisations.

In Portishead the parade, led by Portishead Town Band, snaked its way from Stoke Road to St Peter's Church for the annual remembrance Sunday service.

The band, playing Kenilworth and Westward Ho, led the parade and was followed by members of the Portishead branch of the Royal British Legion as well as ex servicemen and women.

The parade also included representatives from the town's Air Cadets, Army Cadets, scouts, brownies, Portishead Lifeboat Trust, the police and beavers and guides.

Hundreds of people lined the High Street to watch the parade as it made its way through the town.

Portishead British Legion branch chairman, Sandra Favell, 43, has been chairman of Portishead British Legion for three years, although being part of the organisation is in the family's blood.

Mrs Favell said: "My mother Mary was chairman of the British Legion in Hertfordshire and my uncle served in the navy and was part of the D-Day landings.

"When he returned home he became a member of the legion as did my mother so I have followed the family tradition.

"The parade is about showing our thanks to those serving for their county and remembering those who laid down their lives and are still laying down their lives."

Ex serviceman Ray Chappell, 59, was one of many veterans to join the parade to remember lost comrades.

Mr Chappell, who lives in Portishead, was a sergeant in the Royal Engineers, serving between 1965 and 1979.

He was awarded the military medal and the general service medal for his work in Northern Ireland and Dhofar.

Mr Chappell said: "My father and his five brothers were in World War Two.

"I am here to remember all those who lost their lives in the conflicts and it's wonderful to see so many people turn out and pay their respects."

Proud Portishead mum Sheena Carver, was carrying the standard for Portishead British Legion.

Mrs Carver, 44, worked in the intelligence corps in the army and travelled the world before leaving the forces after six and a half years to start a family

Her daughter Aimee, 15 who is in the army cadets and son Tarik, seven, who is in the Beavers, both followed her in the parade.

Mrs Carver, who was awarded a general service medal for her time in the intelligence corps, said: "I am very proud, not only to be carrying the branch standard, but also to have two of my children in the parade.

"I worked in Ireland and there were a lot of servicemen and women killed and it was hard to deal with.

"I have friends whose husbands are currently serving in Afghanistan, so Remembrance Day brings the reality of this so close to home."

Pat Gardner carried the standard for the Royal British Legion womens' section for the first time at the parade.

Mrs Gardner, of Portishead, also has strong links with the legion as her grandmother Hilda Rudge helped form womens' section of the Portishead branch in 1935.

Mrs Gardner, 50, said: "My uncle Sandy was killed in Normandy in 1944 and I have been a member of the legion since I was 19.

"My dad was also the standard bearer for the legion for 17 years and my grandmother was involved in forming the womens' section.

"It's a real honour for me to take the standard in the parade."

Dozens of youngsters from youth organisations across the town also took part in the parade.

Oliver Maggs, 10, a member of the Pow Hattan Cubs from the 2nd Portishead Scouts, took part in the procession.

Oliver, a Highdown School student, said: "I am very proud to take part in the parade.

"It's very important to show our respect to those who gave their lives in the war and for those who are still serving their country.

The parade came to a halt at St Peter's Church where hundreds of people took part in the annual remembrance service, led by branch padre and parish vicar, Andrew Bryant.

The last post was sounded and was followed by a two minute silence and the sounding of Reveille before wreaths were laid in the church.

Names of the servicemen and women who lost their lives in conflict were read out at the service and wreaths were laid in the church's dedicated memorial garden.

A number of readings were given at the service, including one by Portishead Town Council chairman, Councillor David Pasley.