ROYAL Wootton Bassett fell silent to mark the centenary of World War One as the High Street became still during the annual Remembrance Day parade today.

Assembling close to Iceland on the High Street, representatives of the police, fire service, St John’s Ambulance and scouts joined veterans on the short walk to the war memorial where they were greeted by dignitaries.

Wreaths were laid by MP James Gray, Mayor Sue Hughes and members of the armed forces and emergency services, before the Last Post rang out for one of the last times through the weekend of remembrance.

The ceremony was warmly welcomed by residents and continued on with a short service at St Bartholomews and All Saints Church.

Pete Gray, of the Royal British Legion Wootton Bassett branch, said he was thrilled to see so many come out and pay their respects on the centenary year.

“It has been a great turnout even compared to previous years,” he said. “It is very important to remember all the people who have fallen in the First and Second World Wars and all of the conflicts in between, especially Afghanistan.

“I did my two and a half years of national service, two of which were spent in Germany.”

Maggie Mullard, 70, of Royal Wootton Bassett, said she and husband Tony never miss the remembrance events and used to attend the repatriations with the same loyalty.

“We come every year because it is the right thing to do, and we are patriotic,” she said. “We have been here for all the repatriations, and we live on the High Street so we see them come through every time.

“We lived in Purton for 20 years before this but moved here nine years ago when they were just starting the repatriations. Even if that wasn’t a feature of Wootton Bassett we would still be here and this event would still be just as impressive.

“It is also very special for a lot of military families after repatriations, and you can see former servicemen with their children all around the town.”

Jane Spencer, 51, used to join the parades herself as a youngster and said she was proud the tradition continues.

“I am born and bred in Wootton Bassett and even before the repatriations this event was as stirling as it is now,” she said. “I have taken part in many of these as a youngster, in the Brownies and Guides.

“Being based in Wootton Bassett which is a rural area we did not have a great many family members who went off to fight in the World Wars or got called up, it was important to keep the farming industry going and keep the army and everyone at home nice and fed.”