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Gallery: Record crowds attend the annual Remembrance Day commemorations in March




Huge crowds packed March Broad Street this morning (Sunday) for the annual Remembrance Day ceremony.

The event started with a parade led by the band of March 1220 Squadron Air Cadets from Mill View car park to St Peter's Church for an emotive service led by the rector, the Rev Andrew Smith.

Afterwards the parade, which was made up of hundreds of representatives from various organisations in the town from veterans to Brownies , reformed to march back to the war memorial for the Act of Remembrance.

The Rev Andrew Smith led prayers for peace before the two minutes' silence was observed by the thousands who had turned out for the event.

Crowds packed the streets of March for the annual Remembrance Sunday commemorations. (21296864)
Crowds packed the streets of March for the annual Remembrance Sunday commemorations. (21296864)

With The Reveille played the wreath laying began led by Freddie Grounds, the deputy Lord Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire, who laid a wreath on behalf of the Queen.

In all 58 wreaths were laid by representatives of clubs and organisations from the Royal Naval Association, to the Sub-Mariners, the RAF to the army as well as the Scouts, Guides, local football clubs, representatives from the local councils and political parties.

One particularly poignant moment was watching former Army Landgirl Elizabeth Spence lay her wreath.

Crowds packed the streets of March for the annual Remembrance Sunday commemorations. Young and old alike attended the ceremony and these youngsters Devon (centre), Ashleigh (front) and Alex checked out the memorial crosses before proceedings began.
Crowds packed the streets of March for the annual Remembrance Sunday commemorations. Young and old alike attended the ceremony and these youngsters Devon (centre), Ashleigh (front) and Alex checked out the memorial crosses before proceedings began.

Among those in attendance were a contingent from both the Royal Anglian Regiment and RAF Wyton. There were also representatives from the American Air Force.

Local firefighters, police officers and members of March Branch of the Royal British Legion all played their part.

As the wreath laying went on father and sons, John Saunders, and his boys Dan and Shaun, stood respectively dressed in the uniform of soldiers from the First World War as a guard of honour on the War Memorial. Earlier they had stood outside St Peter's while the service was held.

Crowds packed the streets of March for the annual Remembrance Sunday commemorations. (21297617)
Crowds packed the streets of March for the annual Remembrance Sunday commemorations. (21297617)

The family are re-enactors and said they were proud to be there to represent the soldiers who fought and died in the Great War.

The ceremony concluded with the singing of the National Anthem and a blessing by Rev Andrew Smith.

Afterwards the air cadets reformed and marched back through town to their headquarters in Gas Road with the band playing a selection of war time tunes as they went.

Crowds packed the streets of March for the annual Remembrance Sunday commemorations. Among those present was Trevor Quince (front) and Bernard Keane, who both did their National Service. Bernard was with the RAF and is probably the only man in March who can claim to have been saluted by the President of the United States, as he was a standard bearer at the start of the Cold War and was often in the presence of President Eisenhower (before he held the office).
Crowds packed the streets of March for the annual Remembrance Sunday commemorations. Among those present was Trevor Quince (front) and Bernard Keane, who both did their National Service. Bernard was with the RAF and is probably the only man in March who can claim to have been saluted by the President of the United States, as he was a standard bearer at the start of the Cold War and was often in the presence of President Eisenhower (before he held the office).

The town had been decorated with poppies attached to lamp posts throughout the town centre as a special act of remembrance for the 75th anniversary of the D-Day Landings. These were organised by the March Branch of the Royal British Legion and were sponsored by individuals as well as local businesses.

Knitted poppies had also been created by volunteers and groups and were attached to the Town Bridge by March in Bloom members, the hope is to add to them next year, and in years to come.

Crowds packed the streets of March for the annual Remembrance Sunday commemorations. (21297611)
Crowds packed the streets of March for the annual Remembrance Sunday commemorations. (21297611)


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