Cambridgeshire villages and towns remember the fallen

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Silhouette of soldier with head bowed and circle of wreaths on a war memorial
Image caption,

A silhouette of a soldier stands guard over the wreaths in Ely

Thousands of people lined the streets in Cambridge and Ely, and elsewhere in the county, to mark Remembrance Sunday.

From the youngest to the oldest, from new cadets to long-retired veterans, they came to honour those who made the supreme sacrifice.

In Cambridge, a girls' choir sang the well-known words of the poem For the Fallen.

While people in Ely saw a spectacular poppy drop before the two minutes' silence.

Image source, Cambridge City Council
Image caption,

The mayor of Cambridge, Jenny Gawthorpe Wood, lays her wreath at the foot of the war memorial

In Cambridge, mayor Jenny Gawthrope Wood laid her wreath at the foot of the war memorial in Hills Road.

She said: "I hope people will be able to take a moment to remember the sacrifices made by so many of their fellow Cambridge residents - and to keep in their thoughts all people who have been affected by wars and conflict, and continue to be affected today."

A girls' choir gave a moving rendition of Laurence Binyon's poem, For the Fallen, and members of different faith groups offered readings and prayers.

Image source, John Dalston
Image caption,

The parade in the village of Histon, where 75 service personnel lost their lives in the two world wars

The village of Histon near Cambridge began its tribute with a solemn march to the war memorial, which commemorates those who were killed or missing in action after the two world wars.

There were 41 names from World War One and 34 from World War Two.

Image caption,

Service veterans took part in the parade past Ely Cathedral

The City of Ely Military Band accompanied the parade of military and uniformed organisation and dignitaries in Ely.

Among the speakers at the remembrance service in Ely Cathedral was the master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, Lt Gen Doug Chalmers, who commanded forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.

He said: "It's not only Brits we remember today.

"We soldiers also talk about those from other nations who served alongside us. It's their faces and their smiles, as much as those of the British soldiers who died alongside me, that occupy my mind."

Poppies fluttered gently down from the Lantern Tower before the two-minute silence.

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