Remembrance.

Today there were thousands of Remembrance Services around the world. I joined the people of Welshpool at their Parish Church of St Mary for what the Order of Service referred to as the 70th Anniversary of the start of World War 2. St Mary's is the Church where we were married.

It's always an impressive event. Begins at the Town Hall at around 10.30, where the Procession is formed. Really good turnout along Broad St and Church St to watch. The Mayor of the Town had invited me to join in, so I tagged along at the back. But when the procession reached the Church, I peeled off and didn't take one of the reserved seats. Prefer to be in the midst of the congregation, unless on official representation duties. She's a big church. And she was full. After the service it was another procession back to the Town Hall for more ceremony, and then inside to enjoy the Mayor's hospitality. That was full as well.

Biggest crowd anyone could remember for the Annual Service of Remembrance and Dedication. And many were young, with their young. Recent casualties in the war in Afghanistan gave this day special significance. Highlight, as always was the Act of Remembrance itself - The Last Post, The Silence, The Reveille, John Gwillt's sure-footed Exhortation and equally sure-footed Harold Jones's Kohima Epitaph. And it all ended with the Marching Song of the Republic. After it was all over, I went back to the War Memorial and took a photograph of where hundreds had been 30 minutes before. The Church door was closed. It was as silent as the grave.