Sheppey marked Remembrance Sunday with services all over the Island from Queenborough and Minster to Leysdown, Harty and Eastchurch where military vehicles took part in a parade along the High Street.

But the biggest gathering was in Sheerness where huge crowds gathered around the war memorial opposite the railway station.

The service was conducted by the Rev Colin Johnson, padre to the Sheppey branch of the Royal British Legion, and town chaplain the Rev Jeanette McLaren.

Among those paying respects to the soldiers killed in two world wars was Andy Friday, crew manager at Sheerness fire station.

He said: "I came to lay a wreath with the rest of the crew from Kent Fire and Rescue Services and also to pay my respects to my grandfather John Edward Friday whose name is on the war memorial.

"He fought with the Queen's Royal West Surrey and died on March 23, 1918.

"He joined up as a volunteer and was wounded in the first Battle of the Somme in July 1916. My father, also called John and a former president of the Royal British Legion, came every year to pay his respects. Unfortunately, he passed away in April this year."

One of the surprise visitors was Fate, a two-year-old black German Shepherd with a poppy on her collar.

She was brought by her owner Jenna Bahara from Sheerness.

Jenna said: "I try to take her to all the Island services in memory of my grandad Sidney Hall. He served with the Royal Fusiliers and died two years ago.

"Ever since then, my dad and my dog have gone in his honour.

"We visited a few care homes because the residents who can't get out enjoy seeing the dog with her poppy."

John Farley, 79, from Warden Bay is a veteran of the 1st Battalion Parachute Regiment who fought in Cyprus.

He said: "I come every year to pay my respects to my colleague Raymond Greening.

"We were in the same class and sat next to each other at Ongar Secondary School in Essex.

"We both signed up and he joined the Marines.

"Two months in and he was shot and killed. Every year since then I have brought a cross to the war memorial. He was only 18."

Ian Goodwin, president of the Sheppey branch of the Royal British Legion, paid tribute to 'poppy man' Alan Robinson in his address.

He said: "Last year, Sheppey raised £32,000 for the Poppy Appeal and Alan raised £5,000 of that by knitting poppies and selling them."

Mr Robinson, a retired crane driver from Dumergue Avenue, Queenborough, died in August aged 70 after hand-knitting 2,500 poppies at Greggs in Sheerness and Morrisons' supermarket at Neats Court.

Mr Goodwin also praised Julie Austin-Williams who has spent the past 10 years organising the Island's Poppy Appeal.

Last year the Royal British Legion raised £50 million from poppies making a total of £130 million. But it spent £132 million looking after former service personnel.

Among those laying wreaths were the Mayor of Swale Cllr Ken Ingleton, the chairman of the newly-formed Sheerness Town Council Cllr Matt Brown and Paul Auston, the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Kent.

The parade was led by the Sheppey St John Ambulance band. Sheppey Sea Cadets provided the buglers. The sound system was provided by Sheppey FM.

Read more stories from the Isle of Sheppey here.