Skip to content

Thousands fall silent on Remembrance Sunday

BBC Crowds gather at the cenotaph, most in black with their heads bowed.BBC
People gathered at the war memorial in Goole, which is a replica of the Cenotaph in Whitehall

Thousands of people across East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire fell silent earlier to mark Remembrance Sunday.

Organisers of an event in Goole in East Yorkshire said about 2,000 people attended, adding the event had grown each year.

Large gatherings were also observed in Lincoln and Hull.

Services and wreath laying will also take place at various locations on Monday at 11:00 GMT to mark the exact time when the guns fell silent, bringing to an end World War One.

Kate holds her yellow standard and is dressed in black. She is smiling at the interviewer.
Kay Blanchard was the first female standard bearer for many years at the service in Goole

Speaking about the Goole service, Paul Hoggarth, from the Royal British Legion, said: “We've always had this strong attendance, but it does surprise me that it's still growing. If we see anyone with medals or with a beret on, we'll ask them to join in."

Standard bearer Kay Blanchard added: “We do this to help them to remember their fallen; their families.”

International Bomber Command Centre Military personnel stand round the the wreaths that have been placed at the bottom of the memorial.International Bomber Command Centre
Wreaths were laid at the International Bomber Command Centre near Lincoln

A service was held at the International Bomber Command Centre, surrounded by walls that bear the names of 57,861 men and women who gave their lives in World War Two.

During the service, the names of veterans who had died in the last year were read out.

Nicky van Der Drift, the attraction's chief executive, said: "It’s always quite an emotional moment for us, because, of course, many of those are great friends of the project.”

Earlier in the week the attraction hosted a service for schools, with 300 children on site and a further 3,000 watching online.

Ms van Der Drift “It's so important to make sure that the children understand both the importance of Remembrance but also the cost of war and the value of reconciliation and peace."

People in coats stand around in the cold to mark the event at the memorial at Brough
People gathered at the memorial for a service in Brough, East Yorkshire

In Hull, a parade led by the Humberside Police band in Queen Victoria Square marched to the war memorial.

Lord Mayor and Admiral of the Humber Mark Collinson said: “Much of what today we take for granted was bought at a bitter cost by the sacrifices of previous generations. We do not forget."

Later, Lincoln Cathedral was lit up red as a beacon of remembrance.

Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.

More on this story