THROUGH a very effective partnership between Ross Town Council, the Poppy Appeal, St Mary’s Church and Ross and District Branch of the Royal British Legion, the town has celebrated Remembrance-tide with great style and solemnity.

The highlight of week was the Annual Parade and Service at the War Memorial on Remembrance Sunday.

Over 500 people gathered on a beautifully prepared Prospect, of which John Kyrle would have been proud, to watch a parade of veterans and uniformed youth organisations.

The Parade had marched from the Police Station to the Prospect under the vigilant eye of Warrant Officer Clinton Marsh RAFAC, the parade marshal.

The Parade consisted of Veterans and serving Members of the Armed Forces, Members of Ross Platoon, Army Cadet Force, 1002 Squadron Air Training Corps, and Ross Cubs, Scouts and Guides.

Having formed a square around the War Memorial with the colourful Standards taking post at each corner of the memorial, as the Church Bells tolled, Canon Freda Davies commenced the Act of Remembrance. The Exhortation – “They shall not grow old …..” was read by Sue Parker, chairman of Ross & District Royal British Legion and completed by pupils from John Kyrle High School, symbolising the passing of responsibility from the older to the younger generation.

The Last Post and Reveille was played by Des Auld following which the wreaths were laid by Deputy Lieutenant, Paul Deneen, followed by The mayor, Cllr Bev Pope and representatives of 38 Organisations in the town.

An especially poignant moment was the laying of a wreath by the brother of Tim Jenkins PARA, a Ross man who died by sniper fire on Mount Longdon on 12 June 1982.

Following the Kohima Epitaph, Mr Deneen thanked all for attending and reflected on the importance of Remembrance in these difficult times and said: “Whilst we all are present here at the Prospect and are able to do so safely and peacefully, it also gives us time to pause and reflect and hope that there will be peace wherever there is conflict.”

After the service in The Prospect, a parade led by the Choir of St Mary’s to the church for a short Service of Remembrance, The service included prayers read by representatives of Churches Together in Ross, this included a prayer for peace and the laying of a white wreath of peace by Ross Quakers.