A time to remember in the rain as bells fell silent

SALUTE TO SACRIFICE: CROWDS GATHER FOR 100TH ANNIVERSARY TRIBUTE

AS THE bells of St Peter’s fell silent and the marching bands stopped still, the crowds in Harrogate bowed their heads to remember the sacrifices made 100 years ago, and only the sound of the rain was left.

A few minutes before, spontaneous applause had rippled through Parliament Street as the long line of the Armistice Day Parade passed by.

Performances by the Harrogate Band and Tewit Youth Band had filled the air, as members of the Army Foundation College, the Royal British Legion, regimental associations, uniformed cadets and scouts and guides took their places alongside the civic dignitaries.

Among them was Lt Col Richard Hall, commanding officer of the Army Foundation College in the town, who said the marking of the armistice had helped in “bringing people together, and leaving politics behind”.

For the first time a representative from the Yorkshire Ambulance Service also joined the line. Sean Deooley, an emergency medical technician and an exserviceman, said he had been “overwhelmed” at the support shown by the community.

In Scarborough, the commemorations began on Saturday with a moving service at the Spa, in the style of the one at the ‘Royal Albert Hall. It was preceded by a parade of 100 poppy lanterns, from the Grand Hotel.

The service included readings, music, speeches, and blessings from the vicar of Scarborough Rev Richard Walker, and the Bishop of Hull, Alison White.

Also on Saturday, the Crown Spa Hotel hosted an Armistice Ball, organised by the Help for Heroes charity.

Yesterday, there were services at Queen Street Methodist Hall and at the lifeboat house, and poppy wreaths were laid at sea.

The main Remembrance ceremony took place at Oliver’s Mount, where civic officials, veterans and cadets, and other organisations, laid wreaths at the war memorial.

Afterwards, the first of 100 trees were planted on the seaward side of the A165 coastal road, near the town’s youth hostel, to form a new Armistice Centenary Wood.

Nearby villages also played their part, with many holding church services, and one, at Hackness, bedecked in red with around two miles of knitted poppies.

In Scalby, St Laurence’s church rooms staged an exhibition called The Returned, on the many who returned home and the 27 commemorated on the war memorial.

It is bringing people together, and leaving politics behind. Lt Col Richard Hall, commanding officer of the Army Foundation College, Harrogate.

SALUTE: Clockwise from top, the parade in York; the Women of Steel statue at the remembrance parade at Barker’s Pool, Sheffield; the service at Oliver’s Mount, Scarborough; a young boy dressed in army uniform lays a wreath in Leeds; and standard bearers on parade in Leeds. PICTURES: JAMES HARDISTY/GERARD BINKS/ANDREW ROE/STEVE PONTER.

SANDS OF WARTIME: A beach drawing of poet Wilfred Owen during the Pages of the Sea commemorative event at Folkestone yesterday.