A former Shrewsbury coroner, a man whose father was awarded the Victoria Cross in the First World War and a former Mayor of Shrewsbury and Atcham will be part of the Shropshire contingent at Westminster Abbey today.

David Crawford Clarke, John Whitfield and Ted Butcher join the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at a special Remembrance Day service to remember veterans of World War l and, in particular, the final three survivors who all died within the past year.

The last of them, Harry Patch, had lived in Shropshire and died in his Somerset nursing home this summer aged 111. He was the last survivor of World War l trenches.

Col Crawford Clarke, whose father and uncle both served in the First War, Mr Whitfield and Mr Butcher will be joined by Richard Dodwell, whose father Thomas was awarded the DSO, Lt Col Stephen Caney, whose grandfather was killed in the war while fighting in France, John Clayton, whose great uncle was killed in a 1918 mid-air collision, and John Benstead-Smith, whose grandfather was awarded numerous medals for World War l service and was mentioned in Despatches.

Meanwhile Shropshire Council staff and members will gather in the centre quadrangle at the Shirehall, Shrewsbury, at 11am today for an act of rembrance.

In particular they will be commemorating local government staff who died during the two World Wars.

Council chairman, Malcolm Pate, will lay a wreath on the memorial stones.

The Last Post will be played by bugler Mike Higgins, who works in the council’s resources team.

After a two minutes’ silence, prayers of remembrance will be led by the Rev Jane Willis, curate of Shrewsbury Abbey. The Act of Homage will be read by the chairman.

Guests of the chairman will include the High Sheriff of Shropshire, Mrs Anna Turner, the Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Shropshire, Colonel Edmund Thewles, and representatives from the Armed Forces and Royal British Legion.

Poppies will be scattered from the town hall in Bridgnorth during the Armistice Day service, which is set to begin at 10.45am.

Prayers will be led by Pastor Stephen Derges and bugler Alex Edwards will sound the Last Post. Flags and standards will be lowered before the two minutes’ silence.