It was exactly 80 years yesterday since the guns fell silent, bringing an end to the conflict that was called The War to End All Wars. Thousands of people in Oxfordshire paused to honour those who have died for their country. NICK EVANS reports...

British servicemen who gave their lives in conflict were remembered yesterday as people lined the streets of Oxford in their honour. Members of the Royal Green Jackets assembled in Keble Road and were joined by members of the Royal British Legion who had amassed opposite the Ashmolean Museum.

Accompanied by the Salvation Army band, they paraded in St Giles before a ceremony and the traditional two-minute silence at the War Memorial.

Wreaths were laid by the Lord Mayor, Carole Roberts, and the Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, Hugo Brunner, before a procession to the town hall.

In Banbury, a parade from the 39 Signal Regiment made up of regular soldiers, members of the Territorial Army, old comrades and a Colour Party from the USAF base at Croughton,left Broad Street and proceeded to St Mary's Church, opposite the Peoples' Park. After a church service the parade moved across to the cenotaph, opposite the church and laid wreaths in honour of the dead, followed by a two-minute silence.

After the two ceremonies, the parade moved to the town hall, where they marched past local dignitaries, including the town Mayor.

Hundreds of people lined the streets of Abingdon in memory of those who lost their lives in conflict.

A fly-past from RAF Benson marked the end of the traditional two-minute silence at 11am. Wreaths were then laid at the town's War Memorial in The Square.

The day had started with a civic procession, led by the Abingdon Band, from The Guildhall to St Helen's Church for a Remembrance Day service.

After the service, the procession then made its way to the War Memorial where the two-minute silence was held.

The first wreath was laid by town Mayor Jeanette Rickus-Prosser, followed by representatives from the Vale of White Horse District Council, the Royal British Legion and Dalton Barracks. Other organisations which also paid their respects by laying wreaths included the Sea Cadets, British Red Cross, guides and special constables.

The procession then made its way to the former County Hall, where Ms Rickus-Prosser took the salute as the Abingdon Band again led the march past.

War heroes were remembered fondly by those who gathered in Bicester. The annual tribute, which was held at St Edburg's church, Church Street, opened with a poignant wreath-laying ceremony at the war memorial.

The memorial had been specially cleaned and tidied-up in the days preceding the ceremony after Royal British Legion members had complained about its untidy state.

During the ceremony, wreaths were laid by various organisations and leading town figures including Town Mayor John Hanna, for Bicester Town Council and former Mayor Les Sibley, on behalf of Cherwell District Council.

Those taking part moved into the church for a divine service, which was followed by the traditional march through the town centre at around noon.

Marchers travelled along Causeway into Market Square, where Mr Hanna took the salute. The march ended in the Crown Walk car park.

After the march, the Mayor took light refreshments at the Town Council offices in The Garth, Launton Road, with his specially invited guests.

The Mayor of Didcot, Doreen McNulty, led the town's commemoration to those who died in wars at a civic Remembrance Service. Mrs McNulty laid a poppy wreath at the Sundial Memorial plinth on behalf of the town council when wreaths were laid by service and ex-service organisations including the Royal British Legion. The Salvation Army Band from Abingdon accompanied hymns at the open-air inter-denominational service which attracted several hundred townspeople.

Oxford Caledonian Pipes and Drums headed the Remembrance parade along Broadway to the War Memorial at Smallbone Recreation Ground and the march-past afterwards.

There were contingents and standards, colours and banners of more than a dozen ex-service and other local organisations including Scouts, Guides and Oxfordshire Fire Service.

At Blewbury, there was a service at St Michael's Church after which organisations including the Royal British Legion from the village and neighbouring Upton laid wreaths at the War Memorial in London Road.

Wreaths were laid at the War Memorial, East Hagbourne, where there was a Service of Remembrance at St Andrews' Church.

A Parish Requiem was held at St Mary's Church, Upton.

Thame people remembered their war dead at a ceremony at the memorial in Upper High Street. Local organisations including the scout and guide movement, the combined cadet forces, town councillors and the voluntary organisations met in Upper High Street for the short walk to the memorial.

After the last post and two minutes' silence a service was led by local clergy.

At Chinnor councillors and local organisations met at Nicholls Corner before marching to the memorial in High Street for the 11am service.

In Haddenham the service conducted by local clergy on the Green outside the parish church was at 3pm.

Smaller villages on both sides of the Oxfordshire-Buckinghamshire border round Thame held their individual remembrance services on the Sunday.

Wallingford and its surrounding villages stood in silence as local people paused to remember those who gave their lives for their country.

People gathered in Market Place stood sombrely as bugler Howard Brett of Cholsey Silver Band sounded the last post before the two-minute silence.

Mayor Betty Atkins and representatives of the Royal British Legion, RAF Benson and other community groups then placed wreaths on the war memorial in memory of those who fell in both world wars.

Traffic was halted through much of the town centre as members of participating organisations, many bearing colours, paraded from New Road to the Market Place behind the Cholsey Silver Band and a Parade Marshal from RAF Benson.

Following the service in the Market Place, the members of the parade and other townspeople joined an ecumenical Armistice Sunday service in St Mary's parish church. The centre of Wantage came to a standstill on Sunday as civic leaders, service veterans and uni- formed organisations paid their tribute to the dead of two World Wars and other conflicts.

The Mayor of Wantage, Terry Fraser, led a procession from the Civic Hall, headed by the Wantage Silver Band, to lay a wreath at the war memorial outside the parish church of SS Peter and Paul.

Other wreaths included those of the Wantage, Grove and District branch of the Royal British Legion, the Royal Air Forces Association, the Royal Naval Association, Army Cadet Corps and Air Training Corps.

After a two-minute silence, a service of remembrance was taken by the vicar of Wantage, Fr John Salter.

During the service, Mr Fraser broke with tradition to read out for the first time, an official list of between 50 and 60 names of local war dead from World War Two, compiled after ten years' research. It is hoped a permanent memorial can soon be put up inside the parish church where one exists for the fallen of the First World War.

Later, the Wantage Silver Band led a match through the Market Place at which the Mayor took the salute.

It was the third ceremony of the day for Mr Fraser, who had earlier laid a wreath at the memorial outside Holy Trinity Church at Charlton.

And for the first time on Sunday, a wreath was also laid at the new US Air Force memorial at the former Grove airfield as part of Rem- embrance Day. It was a simple ceremony attended by Sheila Cotton, chairman of Grove Parish Council and representatives of East Challow Parish Council.

The last post, played by a member of Witney Town Band, sounded out across Witney's Church Green after a large crowd gathered around the war memorial to mark Remembrance Sunday. They were among hundreds who turned out in the towns and villages of west Oxfordshire to honour the dead of recent wars. Among those joining Witney Mayor Kath Saxby in laying wreaths were members of service organisations, RAF Brize Norton and Pc Colin Richards of Witney police.

Representatives from Witney's twin town of Unterhaching in Bavaria, southern Germany, were also present, including burgermeister Dr Erwin Knapek.

Mrs Saxby took the salute as the parade of Royal British Legion, scouts, guides and Boys' Brigade members filed towards St Mary's Church for the Remembrance service.

In Carterton the town Mayor Peter Madden was among those laying wreaths at an open air dedication before the service in St John's Church.

The Banbury and District Caledonian Pipe Band led Charlbury's parade with the salute taken by Mrs Lesley Roberts, county scout commissioner.

In Woodstock the Duke of Marlborough and Mayor Ted Saxton took the salute for a full march-past led by Yarnton Brass Band.

And in Chipping Norton members of the town's branch of the Royal British Legion led the parade to the town hall after a service in St Mary's Church.

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