Shropshire and Mid Wales fall silent for Armistice Day - pictures and video

Schools, offices and shopping centres across the county fell silent at 11am today to mark Armistice Day. The event marks the anniversary of the end of the First World War. But it also remembers the servicemen and women who have died in conflicts since the Great War.

Shrewsbury's Square was packed with crowds as a silence was observed. Children from primary schools also attended the open air service, which had been organised by the mayor of Shrewsbury Councillor Ioan Jones and which opened with the Last Post being played by a lone bugler.

The event was played out across the county in towns and villages as the fallen of two world wars and conflicts around the world were remembered.

Twitter user @The Tree Hunter put up a poignant video to remember his father, Thomas Verdun McBride, and his grandfather's four brotherds, from Flint and Shropshire, who fought in the First World War.

Shropshire & Mid Wales remember on Twitter:

Parades and services will be held in towns across the county to mark Remembrance Sunday.

They include events in the centre of Shrewsbury, Oswestry and Bridgnorth.

In Shrewsbury the Last Post was sounded by bugler Ceri Stokes from the Shropshire Army Cadet Force.

The 22-year-old from Whitchurch said: "It is so important to remember those who gave their lives in war. We must make sure this never happens again. We have to look at different ways of dealing with conflict rather than suffering such a loss of life."

George Roberts, 94, from Shrewsbury was watching the service from his wheelchair with his grandson Lee McMullen, a 26-year-old fitness instructor. Also present was Mr Roberts' daughter Caroline, 57. He had served with the Royal Artillery in Africa and Italy in World War Two and said: "I came along today to pay my respects and to say how lucky we all are to be here. I come every year and then will be at the church service at St Chad's on Sunday.

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"I was a gunner in World War Two and every year remember all those who died."

Sheila Brake, 74 and her husband John, 80, from Shrewsbury were also standing in the crowd. Sheila said: "People should remember those who gave their lives. We have been over to Belgium and France a couple of times which was a very moving experience. I just wish that this would prevent it happening again now and in the future."

Standard bearers from the Shrewsbury Royal British Legion, RAF Association, Parachute Regiment, Shifnal Royal British Legion and the Royal Welch Fusiliers and Shrewsbury's town crier Martin Wood were also present.

Councillor Jones said: "It was a fantastic turnout. The service was beautiful and it was lovely to see all of the 90 children from Woodfields Primary School here. As an ex-serviceman I feel it is very important that the young of today remember what has happened in the past. It must not be forgotten. The only way we can stop something like this happening is to educate people."

A service of remembrance was also held in Madeley, Telford which had been organised by the Royal British Legion and children from the Sir Alexander Fleming Primary School took part. At New College, Telford and at Shrewsbury College hundreds of students paid tribute to those who died. There was also a service in Castle Square, Ludlow.

Shrewsbury historian Ken Bishop was in the foyer of Tesco in Shrewsbury selling poppies and guiding members of the public through a small exhibition he had put together of World War One memorabilia.

The commemorations will continue over the weekend, led nationally by the Royal Family at the Cenotaph in London. Towns and villages across Shropshire and Mid Wales will also be holding their own ceremonies.

More than £45 million is expected to have been collected nationally as part of the Poppy Appeal.

Legion volunteers in Market Drayton are among those looking to raise a record amount as they join the community for ceremonies both today and on Remembrance Sunday.

Last year they raised more than £18,500 – and now they are determined to top that figure.

Chief organiser of the Market Drayton and District branch Jim Moore said: "The people of Market Drayton have been very generous over the years and we are confident they will rise to the challenge this time.

"There are about 250 members of the club in the area and they are not all ex-servicemen.

"They are people who just like to help such a worthwhile cause."

In Market Drayton, people are being invited to join the town's annual festival of remembrance, ending with a service at St Mary's Church.

Yesterday club officials from Shrewsbury Town took part in a ceremony which saw chairman Roland Wycherley lay a wreath on war graves in the town.

The visit was part of a project by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission which cares for 300,000 graves and memorials throughout the UK in more than 12,000 locations.

Mr Wycherley was joined by first team manager Paul Hurst, captain Adam El-Abd, chief executive Brian Caldwell and youth team captain George Hughes for the ceremony which was conducted by club chaplain Phil Cansdale.

All football league clubs were invited to take part in the Living Memory Project to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

And club chaplain Mr Cansdale said the club were keen to pay their respects during the visit to Shrewsbury Cemetery on Thursday, where more than 200 war veterans are buried.

He said said: "We're here today to honour the countless men and women who lost their lives during the world wars of the twentieth century.

"This year in particular we're remembering the Battle of the Somme in 1916, one of the defining moments of the First World War.

"There are well over two hundred names here in Shrewsbury Cemetery of those who died in war, each one an individual life and a story of a local family.

"We honour their courage and we remember their sacrifice.

"For many of us too our minds turn to the areas of conflict around the world today, and both the plight of those caught up in war as well as those who risk their lives to fight for peace."

Mr Caldwell said the club would hold a minute's silence ahead of the game against Oxford on Saturday.

He said: "It's a time when we should always look back and remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice to allow us to live as we do today.

"We therefore will have a minutes silence prior to the match against Oxford as we take time to remember."

The project encourages clubs at every level of football to unite and remember all those buried in CWGC graves.

Colin Kerr, director of external relations for the CWGC, said: "We're asking people connected to football at all levels to engage with us and The FA on this initiative to find a cemetery near them then visit the graves between November 1 and 18, which marks the centenary of the last day of the Battle of the Somme.

"We'd certainly urge visitors to lay flowers as a mark of remembrance. Members of the England senior men's team will lay roses to reflect the Tudor roses on the FA crest and the England team badge."

Pupils told to wear a poppy with pride

A headmaster at a school in Shropshire today urged his pupils to wear their poppies with pride.

Martin Stott, of The Old Hall School in Wellington, Telford, said he hoped other schools would not bow to what he called "political correctness".

It comes after Fifa sparked fierce criticism when it banned England and Scotland players from wearing the poppy on their kit for tonight's World Cup qualifier at Wembley.

Both teams are hoping for a compromise but have vowed to defy the ban while Prime Minister Theresa May described the ban as "outrageous".

Fifa claims the poppy breaks their rules which forbid any political, religious or commercial messages on shirts.

Mr Stott said he was speaking out after comments questioning his decision to encourage his pupils to wear their poppies with pride for the school's annual Remembrance Service today.

"While I would not make it mandatory for children to wear a poppy I do feel it is important they should do so as a reminder of the tragic loss of life during conflicts across the world," said Mr Stott.

"And I believe our parents in general do support us in this stance.

"But it made me think that schools may feel this is a topic that has now become controversial and they would avoid encouraging their pupils to respect this act of remembrance.

"I do feel it is right that schools should take part in Remembrance Day events and we should all wear a poppy and with pride.

"I hope that schools across the country do not shirk away from taking the lead in this and setting an example by encouraging all to wear a poppy.

"This is not a political statement but a way of remembering and a sign of hope for future peace.

"Our annual Remembrance Service is an opportunity for the children to think about the sadness that comes with the loss of life during world conflict."

He added: "Forty-two of the school's old boys lost their lives while serving their country and we believe that to be tragic, to say the least, regardless of one's political stance, and certainly worthy of respectful remembrance.

"I would hope other schools will feel the same this month."