Veterans, young people and the public turned out in their hundreds to pay their respects on Remembrance Sunday in Bournemouth.
The town held a parade and public service in the Central Gardens on Sunday for the first time in two years.
Many participants commented that it was the most well-attended parade and service by veterans and young people for a number of years.
Bournemouth mayor and BCP Council’s representative for the armed forces Councillor David Kelsey, who read the Exhortation during the service, said it was one of the proudest moments of his mayoral tenure.
“I think it went really well today,” the former soldier said. “We made some slight changes to the route that we usually use and that was because today is about the veterans.
“It is not really about the rest of us, it is about them, so I wanted the route changed slightly so that they had more profile and I think that worked quite well. It was just awesome to see so many youngsters there from all ages. Young cadets, beavers, cubs, and the rest of them. And they all looked so happy to be taking part and that brought a huge smile to my face to see them.
Hundreds of cadets, beavers, cubs, scouts, brownies and guides joined veterans and their family members for the parade, which started at the Bournemouth Gardens Tennis Centre and moved to the war memorial opposite the town hall and the St Peter’s Choir were right in the middle of things.
The Reverend Ian Terry, team rector for Bournemouth town centre, led the service, which also featured readings from Tony Fernand from the Incorporated Bournemouth Free Church Council, David Warden from the Dorset Humanists and Major John Randle, representing The Salvation Army