TEN of thousands of people across Kent joined the rest of the nation in Remembrance parades and services at the weekend.

Starting early on Sunday, hundreds of people, those serving in the forces and ex-servicemen and women. paid their respects at the naval memorial at the Great Lines, Gillingham.

People from all walks of life attended the ceremony, from immaculately dressed veterans to Hell’s Angels bikers. And they all stood quiet to observe the minute’s silence.

This was followed by a large parade through Rochester High Street en route to the cathedral where a service was held in memory of all those who have perished serving their country in the armed forces.

Both of these events saw many young people taking part, doing their bit to remember the fallen.

The Mayor of Medway Cllr Angela Prodger and council leader Rodney Chambers were joined by Medway Council’s new chief executive Neil Davies for the service of remembrance at the cathedral.

This was followed by a wreath laying ceremony at the Rochester War Memorial and a salute and march past in the High Street.

Residents and councillors from different wards in Medway also laid wreaths and observed a silence at their respective war memorials.

Saturday also saw a number of services including the Royal Marines parade in Rochester and the turning the page ceremony at the cathedral.

The dignity and bearing of old soldiers as they stood proudly to attention remembering fallen colleagues - and those they have never known but who have given their lives in service to the country - painted a poignant picture at Maurice House Royal British Legion home in St Peter’s, near Broadstairs.

Following a service, a two minute silence was rigidly and respectfully observed on Armistice Day on Saturday, November 11, at 11am.

It was followed by the laying of a poppy wreath and the raising of the distinctive yellow and blue RBL Maurice House standard as the last post was played plaintively.

The occasion was mirrored around Thanet the following day during Remembrance Sunday parades and services.

Marcella Warburton, Maurice House matron, said: "It is a lovely simple service that means so much to all our residents.

"Whatever day of the week that November 11 falls upon, we always observe it. It is so important that Armistice Day is marked.

"It is not just about veterans from the two world wars, it is in recognition of all those who have given their lives fighting for the country and for our boys who are currently posted around the world, particularly in Afghanistan and Iraq."

Crosses were placed on graves when a remembrance service took place at Airmen’s Corner in Lympne, near Folkestone.

There are just nine servicemen buried at the site, most of whom were members of the Royal Air Force.

There are graves of five men killed in 1940, one man who died in 1942 and another whom it is believed died later. There are also the graves of two army men who died in 1939 and 1945.

Those at the service on Saturday included 22 members of the Hythe and Romney Marsh branch of the Royal Air Forces Association and Shepway councillor Shirley Newlands.

Don Nowers, a spokesman for the branch, said: “In 1940 Lympne had an active airfield which was dreadfully bombed. Some of these men probably died from these German bombings.”

Gurkha soldiers sold poppies in Folkestone town centre to raise money for the Poppy Appeal.

They were helped by cadets who stood outside shops and also beside the Garden of Remembrance in Sandgate Road.

The Poppy Appeal organiser for Cheriton and Morehall Len Wilson organised sales at Tesco and said there was an “excellent response”.

Hythe had one of the biggest turn outs it has seen in many years for a remembrance service and parade.

A mayoral party met at the town hall and paraded to the war memorial where the mayor and others laid wreaths to remember those who have lost their lives in the two world wars and other conflicts.

His group was joined by representatives from Hythe’s twin town Berck-Sur-Mer, including their deputy mayor and the president of their twinning association.

School children, Scouts, Guides, Cubs, Brownies, cadets and members of many other organisations listened to a service and observed a two minute silence.

There was then a parade along the High Street, with music from the Hythe Town Concert Band, with the mayor taking the salute outside the town hall.

Mayor Neil Matthews said: “It was good to see so many children involved. It is important we all remember.”

Folkestone’s remembrance event on Sunday involved the mayor Janet Andrews, Folkestone and Hythe MP Michael Howard, veterans, army cadets, sea cadets, Scouts, Guides and townspeople and was the biggest turn out for many years.

A parade left Folkestone’s Leas Cliff Hall for a march down The Leas. The Mayor Janet Andrews laid two wreaths beside the Royal Air Force memorial, on behalf of the RAF and Folkestone Town Council.

She then laid another wreath at the war memorial, at the top of the Road of Remembrance and Michael Howard laid another.

The mayor said: “It was a brilliant turn out. It was wonderful.”

More wreaths were placed at Dymchurch war memorial this year than in many previous years.

Many of those attending the service talked of the service men and women based in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The St Mary’s Bay detachment of the Army Cadets joined The Royal British Legion, The Women’s British Legion, The Burma Star Association, Dymchurch firefighters, Cubs, Scouts, Rainbows and the chairman of the Parish Council along with many residents for a parade from the Royal British Legion to the War Memorial.

Boys and girls of the 1st Dymchurch Scout and Cub group planted crosses as the role of honour was read. The Chairman of Shepway District council Terry Preston was among those laying wreaths.

This was followed by a service in the parish church of St Peter and St Paul’s and Cllr Preston gave the sermon, in his role as Methodist Preacher.

Villagers in Saltwood came together on The Green for a Remembrance service led by the Rev Roger Martin.

The Burma Star Association’s service of remembrance for the dead of two world wars and all subsequent conflicts was held on Saturday in New Romney.

The association’s chairman Ted Norris and Chris Venus laid the wreath at the Burma Star memorial in Church Close.

The 23-year-old piper of the Scots Dragoon Guards Lance Corporal Andrew Clements is the grandson of the Burma Star Association’s secretary, 83-year-old Les Vines, who served with the Royal Sussex Regiment during the Second World War.

Following the two minute silence the role of honour was read by Mr Vines.

The Rev John Coleman said: “We do not have a world war now but the world is at war, including Afghanistan and Iraq. We pray for our young service men and women wherever they are.”