YOUNGSTERS joined veterans across the county on Sunday November 11 to pay tribute to those who gave their lives in conflict.

The Remembrance day parade in Marlborough included a large number of young people, with members of the cadet forces, both from the town and college, Cubs, Scouts and Beavers.

Marlborough College Cadets also stood as sentinels on either side of the war memorial throughout the wreath laying ceremony, and the lament, Flowers of The Forest, was played by Harry Scott-Dempster from the Marlborough College Combined Cadet Force Pipe Band. The band played three pieces, the Sky Boat Song, the Green Hills of Tyrone and When the Battle's O'er.

A large parade made its way along the High Street to St Mary's Church for the Service of Remembrance led by the Rector, the Rev Henry Pearson. Following the service, the procession led by the Phoenix Band, closely followed by the Mayor, David Watson, and town councillors, made its way down Barn Street to the memorial to those who gave their lives in the First and Second World Wars.

Marlborough branch Royal British Legion chairman Alec Light gave the Exhortation and recited the words from an allied forces memorial in the Far East: "When you go home tell them of us and say, for your tomorrows, we gave our today."

Former mayor Tony Gray, who laid a wreath for the Wiltshire Regiment Old Comrades' Association, was the only member of the former county regiment on parade. Marlborough's chief fire officer, Station Officer Ernie Warren, led the representative group of fire fighters and placed a wreath from the Wiltshire Brigade for the last time. He is to retire at the end of this month.

A wreath on behalf of Marlborough Police was laid by Sgt Martin Sweett, a former Royal Marine. Representatives of the Royal British Legion placed a wreath on the Wiltshire Regiment memorial.

In Devizes, the Boys Brigade Old Boys Band led off the parade from the Market Place.

Those taking part included the Vly Club, the Wiltshire Regiment's Old Comrades' Association, the Army Cadet Force, the Air Training Corps, the Royal British Legion, St John Ambulance, the Royal Artillery Association, Scouts, Guides and Brownies, Devizes Townswomen's Guild, the Royal Air Force Association, the Women's Royal Voluntary Service, the Red Cross, the Fire Brigade and Wiltshire Constabulary. After the Service of Remembrance in St John's Church, wreaths were laid at the war memorial. The Mayor then took the salute at the march past.

Pupils from Lavington School were featured on a special Remembrance Day programme in Belgium after their recent visit to the battlefields of the First World War.

Ruth Wilson and Natalie Russell, both 16, were able to visit the graves of their respective great-grandfathers who died at the Battle of the Somme during the 1914-1918 conflict. They were among the group of pupils who laid a wreath at the Menin Gate at Ypres during the eight o'clock Last Post ceremony at the monument after a request from the Market Lavington branch of the Royal British Legion.

A roll call of the names on the Pewsey War Memorial was read aloud after the traditional silence at Sunday's Remembrance Day service in Pewsey. The names included those who died in the two World Wars and of Tom Rudman who was killed more recently while on active service in Northern Ireland.

The exhortation was read by Peter Drinnan. The service at St John the Baptist Church was led by the Rector Colin Fox.

Pewsey Beavers made large poppies specially to decorate the altar frontal.