Hundreds gather in towns across Leicestershire to pay their respects

Hundreds of people gathered in towns across the county yesterday to pay their respects to fallen servicemen and women.

In Hinckley, they included Eddy Campbell, 92.

He said: "Today and the service are very important to me as I lost quite a lot of friends in various campaigns.

"I was in the convoys that went to Russia, Sicily and Italy, in the aircraft carriers, and all three ships survived.

"I must have been a lucky mascot for them."

Those gathered at the Memorial Gardens in the town for a service included dignitaries, Scouts and armed forces representatives. They marched from the gardens to St Mary's Church.

Jonny Hamlet and wife Beryl Green have been involved with the town's poppy appeal for more than 50 years.

Jonny said: "When I laid down the wreath, I nearly broke down.

"I just find it so emotional every time."

In Melton, veterans were joined by cadets, Scouts, police officers and firefighters for a parade and service.

Peter Roffey, president of the Melton branch of the Royal British Legion, said: "It went very well and we're extremely pleased with the turnout.

"At one stage, we had people standing at the back of the church and until the wreath bearers had sat down, we were overcrowded.

"It's nice to see that people are coming together – not to celebrate war, or anything like that, but to remember the sacrifices of the past. That's what it's all about."

Services were also held in Market Harborough, Loughborough, Melton, Oadby, Wigston, Whitwick and other locations across Leicestershire.