Residents across Torbay gather to honour the fallen on Armistice Day

Yesterday, communities across Torbay paused to remember those who lost their lives in the First World War and subsequent conflicts.

Armistice Day, observed annually on November 11, marks the anniversary of the end of the First World War, which concluded at 11am on November 11, 1918.

In Torquay, residents, veterans, Armed Forces personnel and local dignitaries gathered outside Torquay Town Hall for an Armistice service led by the Torquay branch of the Royal British Legion and a two minutes’ silence.

At 11am, there was also an Armistice service at St Marychurch War memorial on Fore Street .

As part of the service, 16 wreaths were laid.

At 1pm, there was a memorial service at the war memorial outside Little Theatre on St Mark’s Road.

A Festival of Remembrance was held at Central Church on Tor Hill Road, at 7.30pm.

At Torbay Hospital, several members of staff gathered in the Rose Garden to commemorate Armistice Day.

Following the service, a few Torbay Sea Cadets asked for their wreath to be placed on the Louisa Cary Ward to honour the young people who served in the Armed Forces.

Also in Torquay, poppy rocks created by Steve Jegat from Mental Health Rocks, were used to keep wreaths in place in several locations across the Torbay coastline.

Steve spoke about why he decided to do this and said: “It came about from a story told to me by Torbay's famous veteran Lionel Digby when they used to do services at Corbyn Head, before the service was finished the Wreaths were blowing over the railings and into the sea, so now every service the wreaths are decorated beautifully in Poppy Rocks.”

Before dawn yesterday, the Civic Mayor of Torbay presented a poppy wreath to be taken by train to London Paddington to be placed at the War Memorial there.

It arrived just in time for the annual Remembrance Service at Paddington Railway Station.

Paignton marked Armistice Day with a service at Paignton War Memorial led by the Paignton Branch of the Royal British Legion, including a two minutes’ silence.

Brixham also commemorated the day with a Remembrance service at Churston War Memorial, which began at 10.55am.