Thousands fall silent and pay respects to war dead (From Worcester News)

Thousands fall silent and pay respects to war dead

9:00am Thursday 12th November 2009

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A SOMBRE silence fell as the Last Post sounded out across Worcestershire yesterday.

Thousands of people around the county observed two minutes silence at 11am to pay respects to men and women killed in wars.

A crowd gathered outside Worcester Cathedral for a moving Armistice Day service. Traffic was stopped and shoppers bowed their heads as veterans and civic dignitaries laid wreaths of poppies on the war memorial.

Autumn leaves fell to the ground as Sergeant Major Richard Weston of the Worcester Salvation Army played the Last Post to mark the moment that the First World War came to an end in 1918.

Canon Paul Tongue, leading the open air service, asked people to remember those who continue to make the ultimate sacrifice for freedom.

Addressing the motionless crowd he said: “We pray for peace, for those who are still suffering as a result of war and we remember those who are serving in our forces in Afghanistan.”

A representative of the Royal British Legion read a passage from Laurence Binyon’s poem For the Fallen and the crowd sang a verse of the national anthem before quietly dispersing.

Elsewhere, schoolchildren all over Worcestershire paused to reflect on the human cost of war.

Pupils of Abbey Park Middle School in Evesham commemorated the Armistice by making their own individual poppies.

After observing two minutes silence and listening to a reading of For the Fallen they quietly placed their poppies into a group wreath at the foot of their school sculpture.

They were joined afterwards by the Mayor of Pershore Councillor Chris Parsons and representatives from the Pershore Royal Naval Association and Royal British Legion.

Headteacher Lynn Evans was delighted with the pupils’ tribute.

She said: “They were all very solemn as they gathered at the school sculpture.

“They realise the tremendous importance of this day. All pupils study the two world wars as part of the curriculum and they are always keen to pay their respects to those who have served or who are still serving our country.

“I was really proud of them all.”

Buildings throughout Worcestershire, from County Hall to Worcester magistrates and crown courts, also fell silent for two minutes.

The chaplain for West Mercia Police, the Venerable Ron Hesketh, led a remembrance service at the force headquarters at Hindlip Hall in Worcester.

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