A CHILLY wind swept around Devizes Market Place on Sunday morning as hundreds of people of all ages gathered to watch the parade form before processing to St John's Church.

But as Mayor Nigel Carter accompanied by a Lieutenant Colonel and a retired Lieutenant General arrived to inspect the assembled old soldiers, serving military and uniformed youth organisations at 10.30am the sun came out to greet them.

The inspection party included Lieutenant General Sir Roderick Cordy-Simpson the vice Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire and Lt Col Matt Cadman Commanding Officer of the 2nd Military Intelligence Battalion based at Upavon, which is Devizes adopted regiment.

In charge of making sure everything ran with military precision was parade marshal Lt Col Norman Minty from the Devizes branch of the Royal British Legion.

But busiest man on the day was town councillor Kelvin Nash who first played in a marching band that led the procession to the church before rushing back to the town hall to take up his place as part of the processional party and then became part of Devizes Town Band which performed outside the church. Finally he played the Last Post twice as the congregation and those gathered outside St John's marked the two minutes silence.

He said: "Devizes Town Band is not a marching band but a few of us from it along with members of the former Wyvern Band and some other volunteers got together to lead the parade. It would not be the same without a band."

The service was conducted by the Rev Canon Paul Richardson to a packed church and it was relayed outside to the many others who gathered by the war memorial.

Later wreaths were laid by those representing many organisations were laid. Children from Devizes schools under the eye of Devizes Royal British Legion poppy appeal organiser Franklin Richmond also placed their wreaths.

The salute during the march past back to the Market Place was taken by the Mayor, the vice Lord Lieutenant and Devizes Royal British Legion president Jeff Matthews.