Hundreds packed into Ely Cathedral for an emotional Remembrance service which, for the first year, included a roll call of young men who died in the First World War.

Ely Standard: Remembrance Parade, Ely, 2014 (PHOTO: Clinton Edwards)Remembrance Parade, Ely, 2014 (PHOTO: Clinton Edwards) (Image: Archant)

The service included more wreaths than ever laid by local organisations, prompted by recent First World War commemorations to respect those who have fallen in combat.

John Borland, president of the Ely Royal British Legion, said: “There are 224 names on the Ely war memorial and this year we decided to start reading them during the service.

“I read about 40 of them names along with where they were born and where they died.

“Over the next five years we will complete the reading of all the names. Personalising the memorial service in this way brought into sharp focus the human cost of war to local communities.

Ely Standard: Remembrance Parade, Ely, 2014 (PHOTO: Clinton Edwards)Remembrance Parade, Ely, 2014 (PHOTO: Clinton Edwards) (Image: Archant)

“It was incredibly moving. People could recognise street names and family names. There were not many dry eyes in the cathedral.”

More than 20 standard bearers joined the service and more than 40 wreaths were laid - the most in recent years.

Mr Borland said: “I think things like the poppies at the Tower of London and this year’s commemorations (100th anniversary of the start of the First World War) has brought about greater awareness of the whole process of remembrance and encouraged people to get actively involved.

“People are realising the enormity of the loss and in our small way in Ely we are joining this movement of wishing to joining remembrance services.”

He added: “I would like to thank everybody for their generosity for this year’s Poppy Appeal - it looks set to top last year’s record of £26,000.”

The service was joined by Cambridgeshire vice lord lieutenant, Jane Lewin-Smith.