Hundreds attend Remembrance Sunday service and parade in Hartlepool town centre

Serving forces personnel, veterans, community organisations, civic dignitaries and families all paid their respects and observed the two-minute silence at 11am during the service in Victory Square.

The parade marched down Victoria Road and into Victory Square for service led by Canon Paul Douthwaite, parish priest at St Joseph with the famous Kohima Epitaph war memorial inscription read by Hartlepool veteran Michael Male.

Standard bearers for several forces’ organisations were proudly represented in front of the war memorial, before poppy wreaths were laid on behalf of numerous branches of the services and a wide section of the community.

Sunday’s service was one of a number held across the town organised by Hartlepool Borough Council.

Smaller services and wreath layings were held at the Headland War Memorial in Redheugh Gardens and Seaton Carew War Memorial on The Green.

There was also a Communion church service at 9.30am in Greatham Church followed by a wreath laying at Greatham War Memorial at 10.55am, while there will also be remembrance services at St Peter’s Church in Elwick at 9.30am and St Mary Magdalene Church at Hart Village.

Councillor Sue Little, the Ceremonial Mayor of Hartlepool, said: “The services taking place across the borough are an opportunity for us all to come together and honour the memories of those local servicemen, servicewomen and members of the emergency services who made the ultimate sacrifice in their service for their country. It is important that we never forget their bravery and dedication.”