AROUND 2,500 people turned out to watch the Remembrance Day parade through Skipton on Sunday.

More than 200 people were involved in the parade which started at Bunkers Hill, followed Newmarket Street, went up the High Street and circled the war memorial for a two minute's silence observed at 11am.

Parade marshal Keith Wright, chairman of the Skipton branch of the Royal British Legion, said the parade included the band, 15 to 20 local Legion members, 70 members Army Foundation College at Harrogate, 50 members of the Air Training Corps, 15 members of the Army Cadet Force, a representative from the U.S. Air Force at Menwith Hill and dignitaries include Skipton and Ripon MP Julian Smith and local councillors and their partners.

After the wreath laying ceremony and a Remembrance service at Holy Trinity Church, which was led by the Rev Veronica James, the parade reformed at The Bailey went down the High Street, where a salute was given by Deputy Lieutenant for North Yorkshire, Brigadier Johnny Wardle.

"Overall it was great day and everything went well," said Mr Wright. "The weather was cold, but it was dry and sunny.

"The parade went like clockwork, and I give my thanks to everyone who turned out in the parade," he said. "I'd also like to thank Skipton Town Council, Dave Parker and his team for helping organise the event and sorting the road closures."

Over one hundred Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorers and their leaders braved the cold weather to attend parades in Ingleton and Settle on Remembrance Day. In Settle, having begun the service in church, the congregation moved in procession to the Cenotaph with the Scout Colour Parties proudly parading their flags. Two minutes silence was observed and wreaths were laid.

In Ingleton, the service began with a hymn during which the Colours were presented. This was followed by prayers and readings before the congregations of both St. Mary’s and the Methodist Church united at the War Memorial for the sounding of the last post, the traditional two-minute silence and the laying of wreaths.

Several members of the public commented on how encouraging it was to see members of the Scout Association involved on such an occasion. The youngsters were praised and thanked for their excellent contribution, a welcome compliment to all our young people and their leaders!

One leader, Tom Haigh, was missing from his local parade this year. As a Queen’s Scout recipient, County Deputy Youth Commissioner and District Youth Commissioner, he had been invited to represent The Scout Association in the London Cenotaph March Past following the National Service of Remembrance in Whitehall. It was with great pride that he was able to represent Ingleton Scout Group, Ingleborough District and the County of North Yorkshire Scout on such as prestigious occasion.   

More than 400 people turned out for the Remembrance Day parade and service in Earby and Sough on Sunday.

The parade left New Road Community Centre at 2.10pm and followed a poppy-lined route along the A56 to the war memorial in Sough Park for the service at 2.30pm.

With Earby Brass Band providing the music, the parade was led by James Spence, the District Standard Bearer for the Royal British Legion, and his daughter, Jessica Spence, who paraded the Civic Union Flag.

The service was led by the Rev Hugh Fielden, Royal British Legion Chaplain for the district, alongside vicars, priests and readers from all five local churches.

Just ahead of the wreath laying ceremony, local young people placed 100 wooden crosses in the gardens at the foot of the war memorial.

Sixty-four of these had the names, age, date of death and regimental badges of the 64 men lost from Earby and District in 1917. Thirty-two of these men were lost at Passchendaele.

The names of the 64 men were read out by Cllr Chris Tennant, chairman of Earby Town Council, Rob Careswell, memorials officer for Pendle Borough Council, Bob Abel and Steve Marshall, both of the Earby History Society.

Fifty-seven wreaths were called and laid, with World War Two veteran Norman Vesty laying the wreath for the British Army, followed by his own wreath for The Royal Scots.

Mr Vesty also spoke the Exhortation with the young person's reply coming from Marcus Lilley, 12, and the Kohima Epitaph was spoken by Adrian Lilley.

The parade then reformed and returned to the community centre in Earby to be dismissed.

A new plaque with the names of those from Cross Hills area who lost their lives in World War Two was unveiled at the war memorial in Cross Hills on Saturday.

The plaque was unveiled by Jeanne Horsfall, whose brother in law, C. Michael Horsfall of Glusburn, was killed at Arnhem in 1944.

Amongst those in attendance were members Haworth Home Guard, who assisted with unveiling, and Glusburn and Cross Hills councillor Patrick Hargreaves.

Gordon Hutchison, leader of the Haworth Home Guard, gave an address and Graham and Stewart Wright served as Honor Guards.

The plaque will be added to the Cross Hills war memorial at a future date.

In addition to all of the Remembrance events across Craven at the weekend, the children at Burnsall Primary School created their own Weeping Window of poppies as part of their learning about Remembrance Day.