There were a good numbers of people out on Sunday attending Remembrance Services across Thurrock.

Thousands of residents, young and old, paid their respects at various events across the borough to ordinary people who made extraordinary sacrifices during war.

I have attended the memorial service in Grays several times over the years and I have never seen so many families in attendance before.

Obviously with it being 100 years since Armistice there was additional poignancy this year.

At the Grays service, and from the pictures from others, it is heartening to see so many making the effort to get out on Sunday morning, but there was room on the streets for plenty more.

It’s increasingly hard in today’s world to get your head around the enormity of two major conflicts.

And it’s impossible to begin to imagine the society we may have been living in if things had turned out differently. We wouldn’t be enjoying the freedoms our communities enjoy today I’m sure.

And it’s all thanks to the ultimate sacrifices made by hundreds of thousands of young people over the two devastating conflicts.

The stories of these sacrifices must never grow old.

And despite the improved turnouts this year, it’d be good to see more people making the effort next year.

After all, if you enjoy the many advantages of living here there really are few excuses for not getting out to a remembrance event and paying your respects.