A hushed silence fell on the borough’s streets this morning as thousands turned out to pay their respects to those who have died in conflict.

Newham Recorder: Youngsters lay wreathes at the Remembrances service in Central ParkYoungsters lay wreathes at the Remembrances service in Central Park (Image: Archant)

Poppy-wearing pensioners and solemn school children were among those marking Remembrance Sunday in East Ham, where air cadets led a procession from the town hall in Barking Road to Central Park.

Crowds lined the streets to witness the parade and the trumpeting of ‘When The Saints Go Marching In’, a fitting start to the sombre and commemorative event.

“All my family served in three wars; we do this to remember the fallen. There are no other words,” said Allan White, 82, the East Ham chair of the Royal British Legion. Allan was one of the hundreds-strong procession, joined by dignitaries who included East Ham MP Stephen Timms and Newham Mayor Robin Wales.

A ring of residents of all ages surrounded the Cenotaph in Central Park, where a moving service was conducted by Fred Ashford-Okai and the Bishop of Barking, Peter Hill.

Mournful, poignant tones of The Last Post sounded as those gathered paid their tributes to the fallen. Dignitaries and representatives of the the air, police, army and sea cadets, were among those who honoured the dead by laying a wreath at the war memorial, to the accompaniment of the Newham Academy Senior Windband.

Later in the service, Rev Ashford-Okai asked those present to break with tradition and celebrate the youngsters in the parade, who received a hearty round of applause for their role in the community.

“There’s only one place in London where you find so many young people, so beautiful, so intelligent, so happy, and that is Newham,” he said.

Long after the parade had melted from Central Park, leaving only poppies in their wake, the words of Bishop of Barking rang on: “It’s so easy to forget, but today we remember.”

Services also took place at All Saints Church in West Ham, St Mark’s Memorial in North Woolwich and St Luke’s Memorial in Canning Town. How did you mark Remembrance Day? Send us your photos and comments by emailing newsdesk@newhamrecorder.co.uk