Wyre Forest has paid its annual tribute to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in war.

Service for railwaymen

AT Kidderminster's Severn Valley Railway station, there was a special service to remember railwaymen and women killed in wartime, with a wreath adorning the front of the Remembrance Day Special which departed for Bridgnorth at noon on Sunday.

Prior to the steam locomotive pulling out, the names of all district railwaymen and women killed in the two world wars were read out in a service led by Rev Liam Johnston, chaplain to Britain's railways. Prayers were also said on the train's arrival in Bridgnorth.

Lone drummer heads parade

EX-SERVICEMEN and young Scouts and Guides were among those who trooped behind a solo drummer before wreath-laying and a remembrance service in Stourport.

Among them were two brothers, Private Malcolm Arnold and Able Seaman Clive Arnold, who both saw active service in the Second World War.

Stourport Royal British Legion poppy organiser Dave Milton said the event was very well attended and went off without a hitch - barring the non-appearance of the full Severnsiders Marching Band. ex-servicemen Private Malcolm Arnold, his brother Able Seaman Clive Arnold, and Gunner Dennis holland, prepar to join the remembrance service in Stourport.

"We understand one of the leading members was ill so instead we had a single drummer, who was excellent."

Ensuring we never forget

MEN and women who will never forget joined forces with youngsters to honour the war dead and battle-scarred at special services across Wyre Forest and beyond on Sunday.

The turn-out in Kidderminster exceeded expectations and was the best in more than 20 years, said Royal British Legion event organiser Tony Hinton.

Representatives from ex-service organisations, youth groups and councils bowed their heads to remember those who risked life and limb to serve their country in wars across the globe.standard bearers lower their colours in Kidderminster.

The poignant event in Kiddermin-ster was echoed in towns and villages across the district and surrounding area.

The Mayor of Bewdley, Councillor Jeremy Ferguson, led formal tributes at two well-attended ceremonies in Bewdley - in the morning outside St Anne's Church and in the darkening afternoon at All Saints in Wribbenhall.

Heads dropped and standard bearers lowered their flags during periods of silence to reflect and remember.

In Kidderminster, a grand parade marched proudly through the town from New Road to the war memorial outside St Mary's Church for a wreath-laying ceremony. There was then a slight delay before a roll of drums marked the start of two minutes' silence. Those present then filed into church for a service of remembrance.

Among those who laid wreaths were serving and ex-service personnel and the Mayor of Kidderminster, Councillor Helen Dyke, watched by other dignitaries, relatives and representatives of the police and voluntary groups. Mayor of Kidderminster, Councillor Helen Dyke, lays a wreath in Kidderminster.

Mr Hinton said it had been a very emotional event for many of those present.

"The turn-out was incredible - during the service people had to stand three and four deep at the back of the church. People were genuinely moved by what was happening.

"One young man undergoing gunnery training came over to shake hands and to express his thanks for what we were doing to remember those who served their country. We also saw genuine outpourings of emotion at the poppy appeal display we had put up in the Swan Centre, with many people, old and young, moved to tears."

Scenes of remembrance were watched by hundreds of onlookers in Cleobury Mortimer and villages in the area, including Churchill, the venue for an event organised by the Blakedown and Hagley branch of the Royal British Legion.

Wreaths were laid there by Wyre Forest District Council chairman Councillor Pauline Hayward and representatives of the legion and police at the village's war memorial before a church service.

Among the wreaths laid at each ceremony was one in memory of those killed in the most recent conflict in Iraq, although sailor Steven Barnes, due to attend the Stourport event on behalf of those who served in the Gulf, was unable to make it due to ill health.