Shropshire remembers: Records broken as thousands attend Remembrance events
Record numbers of people turned out to pay their respects to those who lost their lives in conflict Remembrance Day events in Shropshire.
The county's branch of the Royal British Legion said hundreds of thousands of pounds have been raised and poppies, pins and car badges were sold out.
Towns came to a standstill at 11am on Sunday as the millions of men who lost their lives in the Great War were remembered.
An immersive sound and light installation was the focus at The Quarry War Memorial.
Shrewsbury paid tribute to the 5,286 names of those who appear in the Shropshire Roll of Honour from the First World War. Andy McKeown, of the One Name One Voice project, said: “The 52 sound columns create an immersive field of voices quietly speaking the names of those who died.”
County volunteers are also confident they have topped last year's fundraising record of £500,000.
Jenny Robey, community fundraised for the RBL in Shropshire, said she was sure that the commemorations would continue for generations to come.
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"I was very touched to see people of all ages come together at the events which took place across the county," she said.
"It has been the best year that we have ever experienced and it was very special. I have heard that record numbers of people attended the parades in Wellington, Donnington and Shrewsbury – it was incredible.
"The Son et Lumiere event in the Quarry in Shrewsbury was also incredibly moving – made more so for me when I heard my great, great grandfather's name read out.
"I have lost count of how many churches made cascades of poppies, it has just been overwhelming. We will be getting the tins in which have been out in the shops, supermarkets and on the streets this week and then will be counting it up.
Researched
"We think we will beat all previous amounts raised. Some people have been so kind in their donations, one man travelled to Shropshire from Manchester and gave us a cheque for £300. We have had story after story about their generosity. People have wanted to be part of the commemorations and it, with a little digging, virtually everybody has a connection to World War One.
"We have been incredibly lucky that there were two people in Shropshire who researched all of the fallen and produced the Roll of Honour. People have been able to go on there and find out if they had a family member who died in the war.
"We hope that this year's commemorations will be the baton for future generations. It is so important that it carries on to the next generation and is never forgotten."
Beacons cast light on peace and memories
Symbolic beacons marking the 100th anniversary of the treaty ending the First World War were lit across Shropshire.
The flaming beacons were part of a national initiative called Battle’s Over.
At 7pm on Remembrance Sundayvolunteers from communities lit the beacons to symbolise peace after four years of war.
One such ceremony was held in Market Drayton, a town with historic military connections.
Following the traditional 11am observation of silence and the Last Post, the town park off Manor Gardens saw a beacon of light ignited.
Lighting the beacon were two teenagers with personal connections to the First World War.
Lacey Mynard, 20, and Niall Evans, 16, live in Market Drayton.
The two, who are cousins, share a great-great-grandfather in James Albert Wilton, a soldier from the town who died in the war.
Lacey said: “My grandmother asked me if I would do it because I have two relatives who were in the war.
“I was quite honoured to be asked, it is something that not everyone has a chance to do and it is a good way to pay tribute.” The lighting of the beacon at 7pm followed a ceremony involving town crier Geoff Russell.
Students from the Grove School then read out the names of the 164 men from Market Drayton who died in the conflict. They were accompanied by background singing from the A Choired Taste group.
Roy Aldcroft said the town’s Armistice Day arrangements were carried off perfectly.
“The children reading out the names with the choir doing the background singing was very nice.
“It was quite poignant, I saw a few people wiping tears off of their faces.
“An awful lot of work went into making the day a success from the Royal British Legion and from a lot of people in the town. Every one of them needs to be congratulated for it, and the people who attended.” The bellringers at St Mary’s Church rang out a quarter peal at 7pm to accompany the lighting of the beacon, and Mr Russell made a call for peace.
Wonderful
Mr Aldcroft said the morning ceremony in Market Drayton had also been well-attended.
“The crowd was outstanding, I would say there were probably about 1,000 people gathered.
“Considering it will be another 100 years before we do it like this again, I think we did well in Market Drayton.
“Let’s hope people in mind not only those who died in the First World War, but those who were left behind.”
Councillor Ann Hartley, chairman of Shropshire Council, said: “It was wonderful to see so many people of all ages attending remembrance services across the county.
"We all have a duty to educate today’s young people about the sacrifices made by previous generations and it is important that we recognise and thank all those killed or injured in battle."
