South falls silent on Remembrance Sunday

Communities across the south of England have fallen silent to remember those who died serving in the two world wars and other conflicts.

Wreaths were laid at war memorials across the region, with services and parades including Dorchester, Poole, Bournemouth, Portsmouth, Winchester, Southampton and Newport on the Isle of Wight.

Thousands of people also attended events in Reading, Slough, Banbury, Oxford, Henley and Abingdon to watch parades, take part in services and pay their respects.

Veterans were among those gathering at the Cenotaph in Southampton's Watts Park.

Connor Scott, who lives in Southampton but is originally from the north east of England, served for 43 years in the British Army Intelligence Corps.

He said: "It doesn't matter what's going on around the world, it's important that we keep remembering and keep this going.

"It's not just the First World War and the Second World War, there are other wars that people still get injured and killed in."

Aaron Hearn, a former corporal in the Queen's Royal Lancers, hails from Peterborough but now lives in Southampton.

He said of the service: "It's nice to be with fellow colleagues that have been through similar experiences and it's always good to remember the sacrifice made by others."

In Oxford, a parade made its way through St Giles to the war memorial where Lord Mayor of Oxford Chewe Munkonge had encouraged the city to "come together in gratitude and remembrance".

The procession was followed by a service at the war memorial before the national two-minute silence.

Reading's main service and parade took place in the town centre.

Reading Borough Council leader Liz Terry said it was "an important time of reflection for everyone and a time to pay tribute to the bravery, selflessness and courage of our personnel, both past and present".