THOUSANDS attended Remembrance Day services in Ivybridge, South Brent and surrounding villages to remember and give thanks to those who have sacrificed everything in defence of their country.

The chairman of Ivybridge’s Royal British Legion branch Dermot Roberts reported the best turnout in recent years, estimating at least 2,000 people came to watch the procession and ceremony in the town centre on Sunday.

The branch also organised a smaller ceremony on Friday, which like Sunday took place in glorious sunshine.

Mr Roberts made special mention of Ivybridge Community College pupil Torin Waldron, who played The Last Post ’brilliantly’ at Friday’s event.

He said: ’We had a really good turnout both days, and the weather was nice on Friday and Sunday.

’There were at least 2,000 people out on Sunday, including an awful lot of servicemen which was really good. At the Sportsman’s afterwards we raised about £650 from the raffle alone.

’Last time we counted, the Thursday before Remembrance Day, we were up on last year.’

The Ivybridge parade and ceremony on Sunday was attended by dignitaries including the town’s mayor Cllr David Gray-Taylor, alongside town councillors and other local representatives. There was a welcome and address from branch chaplain the Revd Ken Bromage RN retd, and music from the Plymouth Pipe Band and the bugler from HM Royal Marine Band Plymouth.

Mr Roberts thanked everyone that attended the two events this year, and praised fellow members of the town’s RBL branch for all their hard work.

South Brent’s Remembrance Day activities likewise took place in glorious sunshine, with members of the public, parish councillors and young people meeting outside South Brent Stores before parading to St Petroc Church.

The village also saw the national two minute silence observed on Friday outside the Toll House, in a ceremony involving children from South Brent Primary School.

Parish council chairman Greg Wall: ’The church was packed for our Service of Remembrance and Rededication on Sunday. Fortunately, we had thought there would be a problem with the scaffolding, but it wasn’t delivered until Monday.

’We had well over 100, probably nearer 120 representatives of youth organisations in attendance, from the Beavers, Cubs, Guides, Scouts and Explorers, and a goodly number of people from the village. We were very pleased with the turnout and the way things went.

’The vicar built the service around the lives of two men from Brent that died at the Somme, with information taken from Bernie Elms’ book The Tommies from South Brent. Thanks to Bernie we know something about all the men on the war memorials, and have even found out some new names to be added.

’As a result, we’ll be adding a new plaque to the memorial, probably in 2018, once we have permission from all the families.’

Mr Wall added: ’We also have a commemmoration every year outside the Toll House on the 11th, which has gradually got bigger and bigger, and where the primary school pupils are involved. This year one of them read a poem they had written, which moved a lot of the older people.’