Chobham Royal British Legion chairman Major John Grugan (centre front), local councillors and village representatives during the wreath-laying ceremony at the war memorial.
Chobham Royal British Legion chairman Major John Grugan (centre front), local councillors and village representatives during the wreath-laying ceremony at the war memorial. (Rob Searle)

The banners of Chobham Army Cadets and Chobham Beavers on display at the entrance to St Lawrence Church as villagers entered for the service of Remembrance.
The banners of Chobham Army Cadets and Chobham Beavers on display at the entrance to St Lawrence Church as villagers entered for the service of Remembrance. (Rob Searle)

Reverend George Watkinson, vicar of St. Mark’s Church, Wyke, and St. Michael’s and All Angels, standing at the Normandy War Memorial
Reverend George Watkinson, vicar of St. Mark’s Church, Wyke, and St. Michael’s and All Angels, standing at the Normandy war memorial (Claire Waters-Duke)

An atmospheric image of a poppy at the Remembrance Sunday service at Gordon's School, West End
An atmospheric image of a poppy at the Remembrance Sunday service at Gordon's School, West End (Gordon's School)

The Parade Square at Gordon's School, West End
The Parade Square at Gordon's School (Gordon's School )

DOZENS of villagers paid their respects on Sunday afternoon to Chobham people who died in military conflicts.

They assembled behind pipers and drummers from Gordon’s School at West End in the village car park to parade to St Lawrence Church for a service of Remembrance.

The packed church was silent as the names of servicemen who died in the two world wars were read out.

The parade of service veterans, local councillors, representatives of village organisations, Army Cadets, Scouts, Cubs and Beavers and villagers then marched to the village war memorial for a wreath-laying ceremony.

The ceremony was led by the Vicar of Chobham, the Rev Dan Stork Banks, and the chairman of Chobham Royal British Legion, Major John Grugan.

A Gordon’s trumpeter sounded The Last Post and Reveille to signal the start and end of a two minutes’ silence, as Royal British Legion, Army Cadets and Scout group banners were lowered.

Major Grugan said he was pleased at the number of people who continued to support the village’s Remembrance commemorations and the Poppy Appeal. “It was an excellent and encouraging turnout,” he added.

Church and community members in Pirbright gathered at St Michael and All Angels Church to mark Remembrance Sunday. Representatives from numerous community groups were present, taking part in the service led by the Rev Alex Day, and laying wreaths at the recently refurbished war memorial in the churchyard.

At the end of the service, Jim Rees from the Royal British Legion, led the congregation in a procession down the churchyard to the war memorial, while 255 Squadron paraded down Church Lane and stood to attention in the lane opposite the war memorial.

St Mark’s Church, Wyke in Normandy was also packed, with around 140 people attending. In addition to the local community, they welcomed soldiers and local Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers.