A SUCKLEY man travelled further afield than most to remember those who died in the two world wars on his annual trip to the Belgian town of Ypres.

James Manderson, a former Scots Guard, has made the journey every year since 1993 on Remembrance Day, on behalf of the Machine Gun Corps (MGC).

A ceremony is held at the Menin Gate, which was built after the First World War and bears the names of 55,000 men whose graves are unknown.

On November 11, representatives of veterans come to Belgium from all over the Commonwealth to lay wreaths at the gate.

Mr Manderson said: "I decided to lay the wreath, at my own expense, as in previous years it had been done, not by an MGC member, but en-bloc with the other corps, which lacked the personal touch.

"There were thousands of people there, as always. It is a very sombre occasion where we all gather to show our respect."