THE Remembrance ceremonies in Ross-on-Wye began this week when Ashfield Park and St Joseph’s primary schools attended two ceremonies at the St Mary’s Churchyard and the Prospect.

The first ceremony marked the passing of 22 Chelsea Pensioners who had been evacuated from London during the Second World War but had died in the town.

The second ceremony commemorated those who fell during the Korean War and the Falklands Conflict in 1982 where a wreath was laid under the memorial English oak tree, which was planted in The Prospect in 1999.

A select crowd gathered at the Wormelow War Memorial, a cherry tree on the Millennium Green and home to the museum honouring Anglo French Second World War spy Violette Szabo.

The service was led by Rev’d Mark Johnson and featured poems delivered by pupils of Much Birch Primary School, who also laid a wreath at the memorial.

A restored First World War shrine which was re-erected last year, commemorates the names of the 32 soldiers who lived and worked in the Greytree area of Ross in 1918 and acknowledges that four men from the hamlet who died while on active service.

The ceremony at the shrine’s new home in First Avenue was attended by Canon Freda Davies who led the service in front of a large number of local residents and representatives of the Royal British Legion.

The highlight of week was the town’s annual parade and Service at the War Memorial on. Remembrance Sunday.

Almost 1,000 people gathered at the Prospect and saw serving military personnel, veterans, army and military cadets as well as Scouts and Guides parading under the direction of Warrant Officer Clinton Marsh RAF from the Police Station to the War Memorial.

Following the formal playing of the Last Post and Reveille, wreaths were laid by Deputy Lieutenant of Herefordshire, Paul Deneen, followed by the mayor and representatives from other organisations.

Mr Deneen said: “Thank you also to all who have laid wreaths today as this is much appreciated. It helps all of us to remember that we are all part of this same community, and we recognise the importance of supporting each other.”