Hundreds turn out to remember fallen

● ●

H● UNDREDS turned out for the Remembrance Sunday parade and service along Greenway Road in Runcorn.

Frodsham Silver Band led the march up the hill followed by veterans to the war memorial for a service, two minutes silence and wreath laying in an event that coincided almost to the day with the 100th anniversary of the end of The Battle Of Passchendaele.

The event was attended by dignitaries including Halton’s mayor and mayoress Alan and Joan Lowe, deputy mayor and mayoress John and Marjorie Bradshaw, Halton MP Derek Twigg, Weaver Vale MP Mike Amesbury and Halton Borough Council chief executive David Parr.

Pupils from St Chad’s Catholic And Church Of England High School were among those to speak to the large crowd, which filled the junction with Moughland Lane and Weston Road and backed down onto Greenway Road past the Thomas ‘Todger’ Jones statue.

Relatives of troops who have died in service, Halton’s MPs, borough representatives of the three main political parties, Army, Navy, Royal Air Force, branches of the British Legion, Freemasons and The Royal Antediluvian Order Of Buffaloes, cadet forces, schools and police, fire and ambulance ● Above: Runcorn Veterans Association held a series of events over the weekend including a Rally Night on Friday, an Armistice Day service and a service for Remembrance Sunday, and right: Frodsham Silver Band leads the parade to Runcorn’s war memorial services laid wreaths.

The day’s turnout was one of the largest in years.

A member of Frodsham Silver Band performed the Last Post.

A small Remembrance garden by the memorial was decorated with mementoes before and after the service including Union and Canadian flags planted in the soil alongside wooden crucifixes.

The main Runcorn service took place from 2.30pm.

Halton Royal British Legion hosted an earlier service for an 11am two-minute silence in Halton Village following its traditional Rally Night on Friday.

Runcorn Veterans Association held a service at 11am following a weekend of commemoration. ● ● ●

PAUL WATSON / FJA PHOTOGRAPHY Mayor and mayoress of Halton, Alan and Joan Lowe, were among the dignitaries to attend the Remembrance Day service

PAUL WATSON / FJA PHOTOGRAPHY A veteran at the Remembrance Sunday service at the war memorial in Runcorn

BILLY JONES / RVA

PAUL WATSON / FJA A veteran at the service

Poppies on the war memorial on Greenway Road, Runcorn

Huge crowds turned out for the Remembrance Sunday parade and service

PAUL WATSON / FJA A speaker at the service

PAUL WATSON / FJA