We will never forget them...

PAST and present came together on Sunday morning for Remembrance Day as a Dunmow soldier on leave from Afghanistan was invited to lay the town council's wreath at the town's war memorial.

Pte Ian Rolf of the Royal Anglian Regiments' First Battalion is currently on leave from duty for six weeks.

He took part in the High Street service and thanked the council for giving him, and the current forces recognition for their work.

He said: "It was a real surprise and honour to be asked to lay the wreath having lost friends myself during conflict, sometimes people like me feel forgotten about as we serve so far away."

The Rev David Ainge conducted a 20-minute service that was attended by around 200 people, including ex-mayor Frank Silver, everyone observed a traditional two-minute silence at 11am followed by a performance of the Last Post.

A procession including veterans from the Royal British Legion then made its way to the United Reformed Church as onlookers burst into a spontaneous round of applause.

The Rev Ainge said: "The applause really took me by surprise as it wasn't planned and it is the first time to my knowledge it has happened." He thanked the public for such a warming gesture saying: "I think they really appreciated it."

Accompanying the veterans for the precession were members from the Army cadets, Air Force cadets, and Venture Scouts bringing central Dunmow to a standstill as police blocked the roads.

After the event, Pte Rolf was presented with a newly-designed Dunmow Town Council tie for his efforts and the Rev David Ainge told The Broadcast: "It was a wonderful occasion and a fitting tribute."

- HAVE you got pictures of the Remembrance Day services from your village? Send them in to us at editor@dunmow-broadcast.co.uk and we will publish them on-line at www.dunmowbroadcast24.co.uk