Shropshire remembers — Gallery 2

The remembrance parade in Newport. Picture by Star reader Martin James.

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Shropshire’s fallen war heroes were honoured at poignant services across the county as people stood together in an act of remembrance.

Thousands of people took part in a two-minute silence across the county at 11am yesterday as part of Remembrance Day, which marked the 91st anniversary of the end of the hostilities in World War One.

The guns fell silent on November 11 at 11am in 1918.

Squadron Leader Neil Hope, from RAF Shawbury, said the base was represented at 12 services held in the county.

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He said: “At Shrewsbury Station Commander Group Captain James laid the wreath and we had two flights which included 60 personnel who paraded through the middle of Shrewsbury to St Chad’s then they laid the wreath at the war memorial in The Quarry afterwards.

“From our point of view we were very proud to be able to remember those that have fought for the country.”

A noticeably large crowd packed Oswestry’s streets as the town’s former servicemen joined civic dignitaries and youth organisations for the Remembrance Day Parade.

The parade marched off from the Guildhall and through the town for a service of remembrance and to mark the silence outside the War Memorial at the Cae Glas Park Gates.

This was followed by a service in St Oswald’s Church and a parade returning to the Guildhall.

Among those involved was Squadron Leader Harry Bozes, from RAF Shawbury.

Mayor of Oswestry, Councillor Margaret Chamberlain, said: “I applaud our local community for its support for Remembrance Sunday and thank the British Legion and everyone involved for putting on a magnificent display of commemoration.”

A full flight of 48 airmen from the Defence College of Aeronautical Engineering, based at RAF Cosford, took part in Bridgnorth’s annual Remembrance Parade.

Wing Commander John Stanfield took the salute with the town’s mayor Councillor Mac Griffiths.

The wing commander also laid a wreath at the war memorial in Castle Grounds and then joined Bridgnorth RAF veterans at the memorial at the former RAF camp at Stanmore.

Scores of people lined the route of the march from the town hall to St Leonard’s Church, where a special service was conducted by the Reverend Angela Rogers and Mrs Marjorie Brookes.

Dave Lewis, a former member of the Welsh Guards who served in the Falklands, performed his role as parade marshall for the Remembrance Day parade in Market Drayton.

The Market Drayton parade started at the post office car park at about 10am before marching to St Mary’s Church for a service at 11am and wreath-laying at the town cenotaph at about noon.

By Russell Roberts