Newham people honoured those who gave their lives in a number of Remembrance Services...

The community gathered at East Ham Cenotaph today to pay their respects to those who gave their lives for their country.

The massed ranks of current and former servicemen and women and civic leaders were joined by a huge gathering at East Ham’s Central Park to remember those who died in two world wars, battles since and current conflicts.

The civic procession left Newham Town Hall and the parade of veterans and representatives of the services and community groups arrived at the park.

Those assembled stood with heads bowed for the Act of Remembrance, The Last Post and the two minutes silence. The Exhortation and Kohima was followed by the Reveille.

While wreaths or crosses were laid at at the memorial the winners of the Newham Recorder and British Legion poetry competition, which gets more popular every year, read their poems in honour of those who died.

The hymn Abide With Me was followed by prayers, the Commitment, Benediction and the National Anthem.

Then came the march-off and, as the parade left the park, many stayed behind to look at the tributes left on the Cenotaph.

The park returned slowly to normality with the poppies and floral and wooden crosses remaining in memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Recorder Editor Colin Grainger said: “We are extremely honoured to have played a role in the service again. It was a moving occasion. We remember the past and present and it is an important tradition that is been part of our lives.

The attendance was one of the highest seen in East Ham in recent years.

Other services took place in Newham at All Saints Church, West Ham, St Luke’s Memorial, Tarling Road, Canning Town and St Mark’s Memorial, Factory Road, Silvertown.