HUNDREDS of people lined the streets of Irvine and packed into the Old Parish Church for the annual Remembrance Sunday commemorations.
There was a parade from the the Cross to the War Memorial, led by Irvine and District Band and featuring the likes of Irvine Incorporated Trades, Irvine Carters’ Society, the 1st Irvine Boys Brigade, Irvine Sea Cadets and North Ayrshire Provost Anthea Dickson.
Hymns were sung and the Last Post was played before David Whitelaw, Irvine Old Parish Church Session Clerk, addressed the gathering.
In a sharp contrast to last year’s downpours, the sun shone, helping increase numbers.
Mr Whitelaw told the gathering that more than 100 years ago people had marched down the High Street to fight in the First World War, thinking it would be over by Christmas and 25 years later they walked the same route as the Second World War began.
He said today we were seeing sights in the Middle East and European wars which we thought were confined to the history books.
If ever there was a time to think about what peace meant it was now.
After a two minutes’ silence, the Last Post was played before wreaths were laid by the Deputy Lord Lieutenant, the Royal British Legion, North Ayrshire Provost Anthea Dickson, Sir Brian Donohoe on behalf of current MP Alan Gemmell, 251 Squadron Royal Logistics Corps, Royal Navy Association, Scots Guards Association, RAF Bomber Command Association, Commandos Association and Burma Star Association.
More wreaths were laid by the emergency services, Sea Cadets, Army Cadets and Air Training Corps, along with local churches, Irvine Incorporated Trades, Irvine Carters’ Society, Irvine Seagate Rotary Club, Burns Clubs in the town and schools.
Others taking part included Irvine Community Council, Boys Brigade, Girls Brigade, Girl Guides, Brownies and Scouts and The Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes.
The parade marched to the church where a service was taken by Rev Alec Wark, with youth groups well represented and a silence again observed.
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