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South West Armistice Day services 'well attended'

BBC A group of people gathered at the memorial service in St Breward. There is a poppy wreath on the left and people looking towards the monument. The people are stood on the pavement with some standing on the grass on the right.BBC
Memorial services across the South West took place for Armistice Day, including in in St Breward in Cornwall

People in Cornwall and Devon fell silent on Armistice Day to honour those who have died in conflicts around the world.

The traditional 11 November two-minute period of remembrance took place at 11:00 GMT across the country.

The day is commemorated every year to mark the signing of the armistice between the Allies and Germany in 1918 at the end of World War One.

Former sergeant instructor in the Coldstream Guards Hugh Richardson said a service in St Breward, Cornwall, was "well attended".

Hugh Richardson looking at the camera and wearing a dark green Army beret. He has a short beard and is wearing a white shirt with a red and two tie. He is wearing a navy blue blazer.
Hugh Richardson said the service at St Breward was attended by local people and the nearby school

Mr Richardson, who lives in St Breward, said: "We were based all across the world but initially I did my training in the UK.

"I was deployed to Germany, Northern Island, Cyprus, Canada and the States.

"We also used to do the public duties, the ceremonial stuff at Buckingham Palace Trooping of Colour."

He said the memorial service on Monday was "really well attended" by locals, as well as the village school, and it was "really nice to see the youngsters".

He said: "It is also our opportunity to just have a personal moment of reflection on the guys and girls who have served before, are currently serving and, dare I say it, who are going to serve in the future.

"Without them, it has all been in vain really."

Fremington Village Green decorated for Armistice Day. A central area features a memorial setup with red poppies. There is a large wooden chair adorned with poppies; as is a shelter, which also has garlands.
Nearly 3,000 woollen poppies have been by local knitters in Fremington

In Devon, the silence in Fremington was held among nearly 3,000 woollen poppies made by local knitters which are on display in the town.

In Plymouth, a memorial service was held at Portland Square where 76 people lost their lives in April 1941 when an air raid shelter took a direct hit from a German bomb.

Dr Harry Bennett, from the University of Plymouth, said: "Here is a powerful reminder of the civilian casualties that took place between 1939 and 1945.

"It is a very emotional day."

Multi-faith pastoral and spiritual care coordinator Debbie Clement-Large said at the service: "We gather to honour the fallen and to acknowledge the cost and sacrifices made in the name of peace."

Poppy wreaths at the across the bottom of a war memorial in Cullompton. The poppy wreaths are red and have notes attached.
Cullompton's mayor said the town's memorial service was held to remember the people who died in conflicts around the world

Mayor of Cullompton Councillor Anthony Spring said: "They didn't do it for themselves, it was done for the future of the country and the future of the world, and that is what they sacrificed.

"We should remember that. We should never forget it."

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