RESIDENTS from towns and villages around Fenland turned out in record numbers on Remembrance Sunday to remember those who have died in war.

At Wisbech, the town’s new combined cadet band led the parade of veterans, Royal British Legion members and youth groups from the Market Place to the war memorial for the laying of wreaths.

The civic procession, including the Mayor of Wisbech Councillor Vivien Macrae, North East Cambridgeshire MP Steve Barclay, Fenland District Council chairman Councillor Mike Humphrey, and Fenland sector police inspector Robin Sissons also joined the ceremony.

After a short service at the memorial, led by Father Paul West, the band led the parade to church, with four cadets placing more wreaths on the memorial on behalf of organisations taking part in the parade.

Following the Remembrance Sunday service in St Peter’s Church, the Mayor took the salute and inspected units before refreshments were served in the church hall.

Deputy town clerk Susannah Farmer said: “The event went very well, and there was a very large turn out.”

Major Nigel Spencer MBE from the Royal Engineers flew from Scotland to be parade marshal at March, where veterans and members of other organisations joined the biggest parade seen in the town for many years.

The band of the March air cadets led the parade from Sainsbury’s car park to St Peter’s church.

Poppy appeal organiser Alec Larham said: “We had a wonderful turn out, with veterans, youth organisations, cadets, the Mayor’s party, and representatives of the fire service and other civil organisations. There were so many people; it took a long time to get everyone into church.”

“Standards from the Royal British Legion, other veterans’ organisations and youth groups were on parade.”

After a church service led by Rev Jenny Webb, the parade moved to the war memorial, for a wreath laying ceremony. The Mayor of March, Councillor Jan French, and Deputy Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire Freddie Grounds were among those who laid wreaths, as well as a former member of the Rhodesian army.

Six residents from Askham House at Doddington also joined the parade.

Thirty two wreaths were laid at Chatteris on Sunday afternoon before the Remembrance Sunday service.

Chairman of the town’s Royal British Legion branch, Norman Larke, said: “We had the biggest parade and the most wreaths ever layed I would like to thank everyone who supported us.”

At 11am on Sunday morning a two minutes’ silence was observed at the war memorial.

Sunday afternoon’s parade, led by the March air cadets’ band, marched from Furrowfields to the war memorial, where veterans, Royal British Legion members, the Women’s Institute, and youth groups joined 90-year-old Chelsea pensioner John Cuthbert.

North East Cambridgeshire MP Steve Barclay, Fenland District Council chairman Councillor Mike Humphrey and the Mayor of Chatteris, Councillor John Chambers were among the wreath layers.

After the church service, led by Rev James Thomson, refreshments were served in the Bricstan Room.

A pipe band led Sunday afternoon’s parade in Whittlesey, when old soldiers, members of the Royal British Legion, and representatives from St John Ambulance, the fire service, youth groups and other organisations marched from the Ivy Leaf Club to the war memorial for a wreath laying service.

The contingent then moved on to St Mary’s Church for a Remembrance Sunday service, before returning to the club for refreshments.

Club committee member David Beard said: “There was a brilliant turn out at the two minute’s silence held at the war memorial at 11am, and a really big parade on Sunday afternoon. Everything went very well indeed.”