On Armistice Day, 11 November, short ceremonies were held to mark the end of First World War at many of the war memorials across the region, including Wimborne, Ringwood, Verwood and Blandford.

On Remembrance Sunday 12 November, parades and services were held to remember the service and sacrifice of all those who have fought for their country and to defend our way of life.

Although it rained on Wimborne’s Remembrance Sunday parade from the Royal British Legion to the Minster, there were plenty of people with umbrellas lining the streets. The church was full to capacity for the service and, fortunately, it had stopped raining after the service for the Act of Remembrance and wreath laying at the War Memorial.

Across the BCP council area, there were parades and services held at Bournemouth’s Central Gardens, Poole Park and through Christchurch town centre, with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Garden of Remembrance at the Priory church.

Despite torrential rain, Ferndown marked the occasion with a parade followed by a service at St Mary’s Church, while in Ringwood there was a procession from Market Place to the War Memorial Garden.

In Verwood, following a service at St Michaels and All Angels church, there was a procession to the war memorial for a service of Remembrance. In West Moors, the act of Remembrance was moving and memorable as the names of the brave soldiers from West Moors who have died whilst in active service were read out before the laying of wreaths. The tree near the memorial had turned a striking gold and pink as if paying its own tribute.

And in Blandford, befitting a military town, hundreds of people gathered in front of the town hall to sing hymns and watch the parade and wreath laying.