The weekend marks Remembrance Sunday, when Britain commemorates its war dead.

The key moment of the ceremonies is at 11am, marking the moment on November 11, 1918, when the guns fell silent as the Armistice ending the First World War took effect.

Old soldier Bill Gibbard still wears with pride the medals he earned in two major operations in the Second World War. And he made sure they had an extra polish before he joined other friends from the Royal British Legion for a special remembrance service with over 1,000 schoolchildren, writes David Horne.

Among those looking on as Mr Gibbard paraded into the assembly on Wednesday with Legion standards at Woodstock's Marlborough School was his own great-grand-daughter, 15-year-old Bethany Lambert.

On Sunday Mr Gibbard will again be on parade when he takes part in the civic remembrance ceremony in Woodstock, thinking of those who didn't survive to tell their stories to their loved ones. In November 1944, Mr Gibbard was a prisoner of the Germans, after being captured at Arnhem, in Holland, during a failed attempt to seize a bridge over the River Rhine and create a route to invade Germany.

He is now 88 and vividly remembers joining the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry as a 21-year-old. He saw action in France and Belgium in 1940 and was brought back to Britain by boat during the Dunkirk evacuation. He then became a member of the Parachute Regiment and fought in North Africa and Italy before coming home in readiness for the D-Day landings in June 1944.

"I had to sit that one out," said Mr Gibbard. "Then we were told we had to take the bridge at Arnhem. We were dropped about eight miles away and used up a lot of our ammunition fighting our way through.

"We held the bridge for three days, but no reinforcements came and we ran out of ammo. I was taken prisoner and ended up in a camp at Düsseldorf for seven months. Fortunately, the Americans broke through and released me just before the end of the war."

Mr Gibbard, of Vermont Drive, Woodstock, married his late wife Joyce during the war. His great-grand-daughter Bethany, who lives in Bletchingdon, often pops round to see him at home.

He was among a small group of members from the Woodstock RBL who, for the 20th year running, gathered for the school's remembrance assembly, held in honour of those who died in the world wars and more recent conflicts.

Several pupils read poems and the rector of Woodstock's St Mary's Church, Canon Roger Humphreys, led the service. This year's event marked the retirement of Len Rudman as chairman of the Woodstock RBL. He has organised the link with the school for the past 20 years and was presented with a thank you gift by headteacher Julie Fenn.

Students Josh Posey, George Oliver and Joshua Clarke were also presented with awards by the RBL for helping maintain the war graves in Woodstock cemetery.

School spokesman Sharon Whittaker said: "It's a special event for the school and replicates what happens this Sunday, including the silence and playing of the Last Post."

Among the Remembrance Sunday events are: Oxford: Parade along St Giles at 9.30am, service at the war memorial, 10.45am. Abingdon: Wreath-laying at war memorial. Bicester: Wreath-laying at the war memorial, 10.50am, followed by service at St Edburg's Church and parade. Botley: Service at the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery, North Hinksey Lane, 10.45am. Carterton: Parade, 9.45am, St. John's Church, Burford Road, finishing at the War Memorial, Alvescot Road.

Charlbury: Parade leaves Spendlove car park, 2.30pm, service at St Mary's Church, 3pm.

Chipping Norton: Parade and service, St Mary's Church, 10.45am. Didcot: Parade from Edinburgh Drive, 2.45pm. Service in the remembrance garden behind the Civic Centre, 3pm. Dorchester: Service at the Abbey, 10.30am. Faringdon: Parade leaves Corn Exchange, 9.15am, church service at 10am, wreath-laying at the war memorial, 11am.

Wantage: Parade from the Civic Hall, 10.30am, going to the parish church, wreath laying at the war memorial. Witney: Parade, 10.45am, service at the war memorial, Church Green, 11am.

The Royal British Legion's Kidlington branch is holding a fundraising concert, featuring the Kidlington Concert Brass band, at Exeter Hall, in Oxford Road, at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £5. All proceeds will go to the Poppy Appeal.