A THOUSAND residents gathered around the streets of Harwich and Dovercourt for Remembrance Sunday which marked the centenary of the end of the First World War.

Schoolchildren, war veterans, soldiers, cadets and dignitaries came out to pay their respects to the fallen heroes from the First World War.

Sombre music was played by trumpeters and poppies were laid on the Minesweepers Memorial, in Dovercourt, and Merchant Navy Memorial, in Harwich Quay.

Onlookers from the local area lined the streets to watch the Remembrance Day parade from the top of Fronks Road, in Dovercourt.

Dale Cheesman, of Harwich’s Royal British Legion, said the sun came out for the parade.

She said: “I would not want to get the number incorrect, but there were about 1,000 people who came to watch the Remembrance Day parade.

“There were people standing at the back of the churches.

“There was a congregation from the churches with so many people.

“The whole day just blew me away - it really did.

“The event was very community orientated and everyone was very sombre and humbled.

“With it being the centenary of the end of the First World War, it brought home to a lot of people what happened all those years ago in the war.

“The Remembrance Day parade was very localised and gave residents the chance to remember the history of the town during the war and to remember the local people who lost their lives.

“It was a very poignant day for the town.

“Everything went to plan and it was a lovely service.”