Citypays respects to the fallen

FIVE-PAGE REMEMBRANCE AND ARMISTICE 100 PICTURE SPECIAL

There was a huge turnout in Peterborough city centre to commemorate 100 years since the end of the First World War.

A large crowd paid their respects by the war memorial in Bridge Street, with many following proceedings from a big screen in Cathedral Square.

The two minute silence was impeccably observed at 11am, with a number of wreaths then laid at the war memorial before a large parade marched through the city centre.

A service was held at the cathedral from 11.45am with the civic party then returning to the Town Hall, where inside was artwork and tributes from pupils in Peterborough who have been heavily involved in this year’s commemorations.

Three wreaths produced by primary schools were also laid at the war memorial.

Elsewhere, poppy wreath laying took place at the war memorial in St Mark’s Church, Lincoln Road, and a parade was held at Central Park from 1.30pm, with a service following at nearby All Saints’ Church, ParkRoad,at2pm.

Meanwhile, blind veteran Peter Price (69) from Peterborough, marched at the Cenotaph as part of the national Remembrance Sunday commemorations with more than 100 other blind veterans, who are supported by Blind Veterans UK. And Peterborough Environment City Trust planted native trees in Nabs Lane, near Bluebell Avenue, in memory of the city’s servicemen and women who died during the war. RAF Wittering took part in commemoration events in Peterborough and Stamford. Warrant Officer Nigel Gurney, the acting station warrant officer at RAF Wittering, said: “2018 is not only the 100th anniversary of the first armistice back in 1918, but also the centenary of the Royal Air Force, and it really seems to have struck a chord. We were just overwhelmed by the level of support in Peterborough.”

In Stamford, record crowds lined Broad Street as the parade from RAF Wittering was brought to attention outside Browne’s Hospital. Remembrance events also took place in Whittlesey, Coates, Eastrea and Turves.

‘We were just overwhelmed by the level of support’

Nigel Gurney