A series of events took place yesterday to remember men and women from the area who lost their lives in war.

Youngest collector - Lydia Bastock, 10, received praise for her help with the poppy appeal from Legion stalwarts Ron Baker, Derek Monk, Fred Yuill and David Hutchings.

At Braintree, Jackie Pell, chairman of the council, and a delegation from twin-town in France, Pierrefitte sur-Seine, laid wreaths at the war memorial in the public gardens in Bocking End.

In Witham, a Scottish pipe and drum band led a parade of ex-servicemen, town councillors, Royal British Legion members and other organisations down the Avenue and along Collingwood Road and then to the war memorial for a service.

The annual procession of uniformed organisations set off from Market Road, Chelmsford, to march along Victoria Road and into Duke Street to the War Memorial outside Chelmsford Council offices for the service.

Maldon's Remembrance Day Service took place at the town's United Reformed Church in Market Hill. The service followed the wreath-laying service at the War Memorial outside All Saints Church in the High Street.

This year ten-year-old Lydia Bastock received special praise for her help with the town's poppy appeal.

Lydia, from Falcon Fields, Maldon, first helped boost Legion funds two years ago when she was just eight.

Published Monday, November 15, 2004

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