Remembrance Sunday

It was blue skies in Nottingham for a Remembrance Service at the Victoria Embankment.

Scouts, Cubs and Guides stood proudly alongside war veterans to display their standards at a Remembrance Sunday event in Breaston, Derbyshire.

The youngsters stood to attention as Breaston man George Keeling lay a wreath on behalf of the Erewash branch of the Royal Air Forces Association.

Mr Keeling joined the RAF 70 years ago, in 1943, and was transferred to the Fleet Air Arm where he remained until the end of the Second World War.

Across the Midlands, proud war heroes have paid their respects to their fallen comrades.

Among them was John Wherton, of Stoke-on-Trent, a former sergeant.

An Army veteran who was forced to miss last year's Remembrance Sunday events after being viciously attacked and mugged on his own front doorstep made his return to the occasion yesterday.

William Hopkins, aged 79, was left with a broken jaw and was devastated to miss the annual commemoration event - but made a full recovery and managed to rejoin his comrades in Birmingham's Centenary Square yesterday.

And Mr Hopkins, from Highgate, spared a salute for West Midlands Police detective Lee Dawson, who led the investigation which saw mugger Richard Christie put behind bars for nine years.

Christie, of Sugden Grove, Highgate, followed Mr Hopkins home from a city centre shopping trip and attacked him.

While the pensioner lay injured on the floor, he then emptied his pockets before running off with his wallet, which contained bank cards and £40 cash as well as his late wife's memorial card.

The British Armed Forces are "probably the best in the world", a veteran has claimed as remembrance events are held across the region.

Lyndon Purnell spoke proudly of his comrades, and said it was vital people paid their respects for the sacrifice made by soldiers in conflict.

Speaking after the service at St Peter's Church today, Mr Purnell - who is the chairman of the Royal British Legion's Wolverhampton branch - told ITV News Central what Remembrance Sunday means to him.

The Lord Mayor of Nottingham has honoured the families of fallen soldiers at the city's Remembrance Sunday event.

Councillor Merlita Bryan told ITV News Central the event was important not only to remember those lost, but as a display of support to bereaved families to show them their loved ones' sacrifice was appreciated.

Remembrance Sunday events are "massively important" to soldiers in honouring those who have gone before, an officer has said.

Warrant Officer Simon Nickleson from the East Midlands Universities Officers Training Corps, who was in charge of today's armed forces parade through Nottingham, said it was a "real privilege" to be part of the remembrance event in the city today.

Hundreds of armed forces personnel have marched through Wolverhampton as part of the Remembrance Sunday celebrations.

The town's St Peter's Square was lined with bystanders as the parade passed by, lead by members of Wolverhampton Fire Service's brass band.

Wreaths from organisations across the West Midlands were laid at the Cenotaph before a packed Remembrance Sunday service at St Peter's Church.

Parade marshal Fred Bunce, who served in the Royal Navy, said: "It's extremely important we remember all of those lads who never came home and we must remember them and I hope days like this will always happen so that we never forget them.

When we stand in silence for two minutes I will be thinking of all of those who never came home."

Lydon Purnell, the chairman of the Royal British Legion's Wolverhampton City and Central branch said:

"Our British forces are probably the best in the world and when we march through the town to applause, people are not really applauding us they are applauding all of those, including the friends I had, who have given their lives for us.

"Today is not just about the two world wars but also about those who are still fighting. Only last week we lost a Wolverhampton lad from the 3 Mercians regiment in Afghanistan. Sacrifices are still being made and we must always honour that."