IT WAS a sombre occasion in Winchester on Remembrance Sunday as hundreds of people paid their respects to the fallen heroes who fought for their country in conflicts past and present.

Members of public joined the Royal British Legion, members of the armed forces and cadets, scouts and cub groups and politicians at Winchester Cathedral for the remembrance service on Sunday, November 14.

The poignant service was attended by senior military personnel from the army, including commander in chief, land forces, General Sir Nick Parker, and Second World War veteran General Sir Hugh Beach.

Also in attendance at the cathedral were the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, Dame Mary Fagan, the chairman of Hampshire County Council, Cllr Carol Leversha, Winchester MP Steve Brine and the Mayor and councillors of Winchester City Council.

During the service, Gen Beach gave a moving sermon lamenting the cost of war and expressing hope war on such a scale would never happen again.

He said: “I grew up in World War Two and took part in its latter stages. I want to make war like that as unlikely as possible.”

The congregation then moved outside to the war memorial, where people gathered to respectfully observe the two minutes silence, before wreaths were laid to commemorate those who died in service to this country.

Members of the public remembered family lost in the conflict fondly. Gillian Frankland, who grew up in Winchester and lived in Bereweeke Avenue, said: “My father fought for the King’s Royal Rifle corps in the Second World War and this is very poignant for me.”

Gillian, 57, added: “It is important that future generations understand about the two wars and why we fought them.”

Cathy Bates, a teacher from Fulflood, said: “To me this day is important as I remember my great-uncle, who died in August 1917. My daughter found his name on the Menin Gate in Ypres on a school trip with Peter Symonds a few years ago. It means a lot to me.”

Services were also held across the district at St Swithun’s church in Martyr Worthy for the Itchen Valley service, St Matthew’s Church in Church lane for Littleton, St Mary the Virgin Church in Micheldever, All Saints Church in Petersfield Road, Highcliffe, and at United Church in Jewry Street, St Paul’s Church in St Paul’s Hill and Christ Church in Christchurch Road in the city centre area.