THOUSANDS of people across the region honoured the war dead on Sunday, November 11. Every town and village engaged in a ceremony of some kind, whether large or small, and each church had a special Remembrance Service. This year, the services were especia

THOUSANDS of people across the region honoured the war dead on Sunday, November 11. Every town and village engaged in a ceremony of some kind, whether large or small, and each church had a special Remembrance Service.

This year, the services were especially relevant, with our armed forces on active service in Afghanistan and Iraq where soldiers are being killed every day. The Royal British Legion, which organises the Poppy Appeal, has seen a large increase in the number of young people who need help. Over the last year the number of beneficiaries aged 35 or under has increased by 30 per cent. So the Festival of Remembrance is not just about the world wars.

Haddenham and Wilburton

THERE was a great turnout in Haddenham for the parade and the church was packed. Among those remembering the war dead and their fallen comrades were three members of the Royal Anglian Regiment who had been local army cadets and were now regulars with the army. They had just returned from Afghanistan and attended the ceremony in their desert fatigues.

"It was a real privilege to have them there," said Mrs Lee, the Royal British Legion secretary for Haddenham and Wilburton.

In Wilburton there was a church service in the morning and the collection for the Legion doubled from last year's appeal.

Prickwillow

THIS year the door-to-door poppy collections were reinstated in the village. On Remembrance Sunday Tony Pearson laid a wreath on behalf of Prickwillow Parish Council and Dawn Hopkin on behalf of the Royal British Legion.

Soham

MORE young people than ever before attended the Remembrance Day ceremonies in Soham. The parade was led by the Soham Comrades Band and they walked through the town to the memorial where town councillor Christopher Palmer laid a wreath. Then they moved to a packed church for a service of remembrance. Tea was then taken in the Pavilion and more than 100 people were served.

Ely

THE parade left St Mary's Green at 10am and marched into the cathedral for the 10.30am Service of Remembrance. The 25th Engineer Regiment then led the parade to the Market Square via the High Street for the wreath laying ceremony at the war memorial.