Good attendance at Stourbridge Remembrance parades

Veterans, army reservists and members of Stourbridge Air Training Corps paraded through Mary Stevens Park in Norton to the Stourbridge war memorial where a short service and two-minute silence were held at 11am.

Stourbridge MP Margot James was among those who laid a wreaths at the cenotaph during the event which was attended by councillors from across the political divide including cllr Pete Lowe, leader of Dudley Council, many of whom had made their way from Lye – which held its service of Remembrance at the earlier time of 10am.

Rev Simon Falshaw, vicar of Christ Church, said around 250 turned out in Lye – where the scouts, guides, boys’ brigade and girls’ brigade members joined veterans for a short march through the High Street to the cenotaph.

In Quarry Bank – a church service, led by Rev David Hoskins, was held at Christ Church at 10.30am – and Park Road was closed to traffic while legion members, ex-servicemen and women, Scouts, Guides, Brownies and Rainbows – led by a lone piper - marched to Stevens Park where wreaths were laid at the cenotaph.

Eric Homer, secretary of Quarry Bank Royal British Legion, said: "It went off no problem at all and there was a good turnout.”

In Kingswinford – more than 400 people including the army and air cadets, legion members, the local scouts, guides and beavers took part in a parade.

Fred Gorman, Kingswinford Royal British Legion branch secretary, said: “The parade was very well attended.

"The weather was absolutely beautiful, so I think that might have persuaded one or two more people to come out and support it.

“The pavements were also full of people watching, a lot more than there usually is, which was a pleasure to see.”

Around 300 people turned out to Hagley’s Remembrance event. Councillor Steve Colella said: “The whole morning, with both the parade and service, went really well.

“The scouts, beavers and girl guides were all in attendance.

“It was very well attended with the church packed out. There were so many people in the church that it was standing room only.”

In Wordsley – police closed the busy A491 which runs alongside Holy Trinity Church and the war memorial after those paying respects were left saddened last year that traffic failed to stop for the two-minute silence.

Councillor Paul Brothwood said: “The police did come out this year and closed the road during the two-minute silence which was really good to see after the scenes of last year.

“But I didn’t really give them much of an option, because if they hadn’t done it I would have been out there myself.

“The whole morning was a very fitting commemoration to those who lost their lives for our country.”

In Brierley Hill – ex-servicemen, scouts, brownies and guides paraded from Bell Street South up Church Hill to the cenotaph where a short service was held at 10.45am ahead of a two-minute silence at 11am followed by a service at St Michael’s Church.

Councillor Rachel Harris said: “It was a really nice service and the church was full.”

Those who gave their lives in combat were also honoured in Fairfield, Worcestershire, where Clent, Belbroughton and Fairfield Royal British Legion held its annual Remembrance parade and service.

A service and two-minute silence were also held at Kingswinford Methodist Church, Stream Road, where youngsters from the church decorated the cross in front of the building with poppies made from plastic bottles.

On the Saturday before Remembrance Sunday - shoppers were treated to a vintage vehicle display in the town, by the clock, held in memory of former Stourbridge Royal British Legion chairman Brian Shepherd who had organised similar displays for many years.

Organiser David Spruce said: “We wanted to carry on the tradition. The largest vehicle on display was a 1939 Scammell Pioneer recovery truck and the smallest was my 1939 Matchless dispatch riders bike.”

Money collected during the event has yet to be counted fully but will go to Stourbridge RBL.