Hundreds of local residents gathered at The Prospect on Sunday, November 13th, to mark Remembrance Sunday. As ever, the Ross-on-Wye branch of the Royal British Legion worked diligently to ensure that the service was the best that it could be.

The annual parade met at the police station, and marched through St Mary’s Churchyard to The Prospect. As the parade filtered around the war memorial, the church bells tolled, echoing the solemn atmosphere of the day.

The Presiding Minister, The Reverend Sarah Jones opened the service with a Prayer. She said: “We remember with thanksgiving and sorrow those whose lives in wars and conflicts past and present, have been taken away.”

At precisely 11o’clock, Graham Aplin, Chairman of Ross RBL, was joined by a representative of the Scout Association, to read the Exhortation.

‘The Last Post,’ was then sounded, and the standards were lowered. A silence was observed as a mark of respect to those who had died while fighting in conflicts. The trumpet then played ‘Reveille’ and the standards were raised once more.

Attending on behalf of Lady Darnley, the Lord Lieutenant of Herefordshire, was Paul Deneen OBE JP DL. He was the first to lay a wreath of poppies on the Memorial.

The Mayor of Ross-on-Wye, Councillor David Ravenscroft, was the second to lay a wreath. He was followed by Councillor Phil Cutter, who represented Herefordshire Council. Jesse Norman, the MP for Herefordshire and South Herefordshire was next, followed by Anthea McIntyre MEP, the local Member of European Parliament.

Many more local groups and organisations then came forward to pay their respects, each laying a wreath. The Ross Gazette’s General Manager, Charlotte Reynolds was amongst them.

Paul Deneen OBE JP DL was then invited to say a few words. He said, “We are fortunate to have an excellent Royal British Legion who do such superb work locally.”

He added: “We should also remember the role that the Church has played and plays in Ross-on-Wye. People value and appreciate the excellent work being undertaken by the many Churches and Faiths within this Community.

“Today our duty within this Community of Ross-on-Wye is clear. We honour and remember those who served our country, as we remember and honour those who died and sacrificed their lives to secure and protect our freedom.”