ODIHAM paid its respects to the fallen with a “poignant and moving” service on Remembrance Sunday.

The traditional proceedings, which are mostly unchanged since the 1920s, saw a Remembrance Day parade, a church service and a reception held on Sunday, November 13.

On the 11th day of November each year, a wreath is laid at the Odiham War Memorial, which features the names of those within the parish who served and died during World War I and II.

The names of four civilians who died in 1940 when a bomb was dropped on the village by a German aircraft also feature on the memorial.

The Remembrance parade was watched by hundreds of Odiham residents as over 100 members of the RAF, Air Cadets, Royal British Legion members, Cubs and Brownies marched down the High Street to the war memorial.

Reverend Alison Brown conducted a small service, which was then followed by a Flight Sergeant from RAF Odiham playing The Last Post and an impeccably observed two minutes silence.

A Chinook then flew past to bring the parade to a close.

More than 500 people then packed into the newly renovated All Saints Church for a Remembrance service by Rev. Brown, which also included a sermon from her son, Ben Brown, a captain in the Army Air Corps.

A reception by the Royal British Legion and RAF then followed at Mayhill Junior School, where it was announced that the sum of the 2015 Poppy Appeal was almost double that of 10 years ago.

Belinda Lazell, the Poppy organiser for the area, revealed that over £14,000 had been raised for the year of 2015.

Former Lieutenant Simon Lloyd, chairman of the local Royal British Legion branch commented on “the added generosity of residents and fantastic work of the appeal volunteers”.

Jon Hale, chairman of Odiham Parish Council, was proud of his parish for the special Remembrance Sunday service.

“Being home to the RAF Chinook Force, Remembrance Sunday holds a special significance for our community and it was a honour to join Station Commander, Group Captain Robinson OBE DFC** and other community organisations in leaving wreaths at our village war memorial to remember the fallen.

“The ceremony provided a poignant and moving reminder of the sacrifice that our armed forces, past and present, make on all our behalf.  

“The occasion was brilliantly organised by the Royal British Legion, RAF Odiham and All Saints Church.  

“It was also great to see our church open again following its recent renovations that provided additional capacity and comfort for the following Remembrance service.”