VETERANS and members of the public turned out in force to remember fallen soldiers at Remembrance services across the Stourbridge area yesterday Sunday (November 9).

In Stourbridge, members of the Royal British Legion, scouts, brownies and RAF and army cadets gathered in Mary Stevens Park to honour those who died in combat and mark 100 years since the outbreak of the First World War.

The commemorative event saw old soldiers march from the Council House down Queen’s Drive to the cenotaph for a service of Remembrance, two-minutes silence and wreath-laying ceremony which was attended by Stourbridge MP Margot James.

Dora Stevens, chairman of Stourbridge RBL, said: "It went very well. There were more people there than ever and it was a lovely service."

Lye residents, veterans, guides, scouts and members of the town's boys and girls brigades also paid their respects to the fallen at a service at Christ Church, High Street.

Rev Simon Falshaw said: "There was a big turnout of 150 to 200 people. The Remembrance service really means a lot to local people in Lye."

In Kingswinford - legion members, scouts, guides, brownies, air cadets and army cadets, led by the Wolverhampton Pipe Band, marched from Kingswinford RBL HQ in Summer Hill to St Mary's Church where there was a wreath-laying ceremony and two minutes silence at the cenotaph ahead of a service in the church attended by Chris Kelly MP.

Fred Gorman, honorary branch secretary, said: "It was an excellent turnout. We had about 430 people on the parade - probably more than we'd ever had. It was an absolutely perfect morning."

Clent, Belbroughton and Fairfield Royal British Legion members held their annual Remembrance Service in Clent this year.

Veterans marched from Clent Parish Hall to St Leonard’s Church where a service of Remembrance was held which branch secretary Harold Tombs said "went off very well indeed". He added: "The church was full and the march and service went well."

In Quarry Bank, a service of Remembrance was held at Christ Church before Quarry Bank Royal British Legion members made their way to Stevens Park where a service was held at the war memorial.

Eric Homer, branch secretary, said: "We had a really good turnout of about 200 people including the scouts, brownies, beavers and rainbows. It went really well."

town's guide and scout groups and boys and girls brigades.

There was another bumper turn out by Wordsley war veterans who attended a service of Remembrance at Holy Trinity Church followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the cenotaph in the High Street.

Organiser Fred Thompson said: "There was a much bigger turn-out than usual, especially from the local community. The weather was very reasonable and that helps to make a big difference."

Crowds also flocked in force to Kinver's Remembrance Day parade.

Lin Hingley, who has been poppy organiser for Kinver and Enville Royal British Legion for the past 40 years, said: "I've never seen so many people at Remembrance Day.

"St Peter's Church was heaving to point where I don't think we could have got anymore people in. The church must hold between 250 to 300, yet we had people standing all round.

"As for the parade, I couldn't see the end of it. I think we had a large number of people from outside the area attending. We were very blessed.

"It was also lovely to see so many families and children. I couldn't believe how many there were and to see them marching in the parade down to the war memorial was a wonderful experience."

There was a large contingent from Kinver Scout Group on parade, while air cadets from Brierley Hill also took part for the first time.

Hagley and Blakedown Royal British Legion's annual Remembrance Service in Hagley was also hailed a "great success".

West Mercia Police threw their weight behind the event to enable old soldiers to safely parade around the Hagley traffic island which is currently awash with road works associated with the new CALA Homes development in the village.

Veterans and legion members first stopped off at the war memorial in Park Road for a wreath-laying ceremony and a minute’s silence before parading, together with village scouts, guides, cubs and brownies, to St John’s Church at Hagley Hall where a service of Remembrance was held.

Peter Hollis, chairman of Hagley and Blakedown RBL, said: "It went really well, everybody enjoyed the parade and the church was absolutely packed.

"This year it was particularly dangerous with the road works on the traffic island but the road was closed and West Mercia Police turned out in force and the neighbourhood inspector laid a wreath. The event was a great success."

Meanwhile a Remembrance concert at Dudley Town Hall, organised by The Gentlemen Songsters, Dudley Council and the British Legion, proved a sell out success. Songsters spokesman David Spinks said: "We expect to send the maximum charity donation to the Poppy Appeal."

Staff at Sainsbury's Amblecote also did their bit to support the Poppy Appeal, teaming up with scouts from Holy Trinity, Amblecote, volunteers from Amblecote Royal British Legion, The Royal British Legion Bikers and Amblecote councillor Christine Perks to raise funds for this year's Poppy Appeal.

Alison Bates, community fundraiser for The Royal British Legion, said: “We are extremely grateful to all the people from the Amblecote Community, who have given up their time, to raise money for the Poppy Appeal and to the customers of Sainsbury’s Amblecote, who have overwhelmed us with their generous donations."

Customers can recycle their poppies in store at the customer services desk from Wednesday November 12 to 24.

All collected poppies will go back to The Royal British Legion to either make new poppies or generate more funds.

The store will also donate the profits from poppy products to the British Legion and customers can round up their bills to the nearest pound and donate the difference the appeal.