THOUSANDS remembered the fallen in Ivybridge last Sunday, with an emotional parade and service in the town.

Ivybridge branch of the Royal British Legion – which is celebrating its 90th year – has already raised £22,820 and has many more pots of money to count.

Last year's total of £22,785 has already been overtaken.

Services were held on Armistice Day and on Remembrance Sun-day.

A short service was held for Armistice Day at the town's war memorial at the top of Fore Street. Large numbers of people attended the service, including former and current service men and children from local schools.

A two minute silence was held at 11am.

Road closures at the top of Fore Street were implemented by police to allow crowds to gather around the memorial.

And the community of Ivybridge also paid their respects to the fallen on Sunday at the parade through the town and service at the war memorial, with a fantastic attendance of between 2,500 and 3,000 people.

Residents joined servicemen, scout groups, brownies, cadets and school children among many others to remember the fallen.

The procession mustered at Ivybridge Motors and, at 10.30am, began parading towa-rds the war memorial. The parade was led by the Plymouth Pipe Band and reached the memorial at 10.45am.

The service was led by the Rev Cyril Short, Padre to the Ivybridge branch of the Legion.

The Lord's Prayer was followed by a hymn and at 11am the Last Post was sounded to signal the beginning of the two minute silence.

The silence was broken by the playing of Reveille at 11.02am and was followed by a flypast by a WWII Piper Cub spotter plane, thanks to David Silsbury. The aircraft circled the memorial twice, waggling its wings in salute.

Wreaths were laid at the memorial by Douglas Stephens, 90, on behalf of the Ivybridge branch of the Royal British Legion, The Rev Cyril Short on behalf of the Naval submariners, and town mayor Cllr Trevor Parsons on behalf of the Town Council.

Councillor Parsons has nominated the Poppy Appeal as his chosen charity for his term of office.

Large numbers of personal tributes were also paid with crosses placed around the memorial.

An address was given by the chairman of the Ivybridge branch of the Royal British Legion David Davis at 11.20am, which was followed by the Kohima Epitaph and closing address by the Padre.

The parade then marched to the American war memorial at the Harford Road car park, where wreaths were laid in memory of the American allies, in particular troops who were stationed in Ivybridge prior to the D-day landings.

The parade then marched down Fore Street and dispersed at Ivybridge Motors.

The Legion provided a buffet at the Sportsmans Inn after the service and parade.

Also on offer at the inn was a raffle with some great prizes and a performance from the Plymo-uth Pipe Band, who have supported Ivybridge Rem-embrance Sunday for several years.

Chairman of the Royal British Legion branch of Ivybridge David Davis said: 'I would like to thank you all for your fantastic support today, and also to thank the many volunteers of the poppy appeal, who have stood at Tesco, Lee Mill, Endsleigh Garden Centre and the Co-op to name just a few.

'Ivybridge Scouts and Cubs were at Tesco and Endsleigh last weekend and collected just under £1,000, so very well done to them.

'I must also say thanks for the work carried out by members of my branch, particularly our vice chairman and Poppy Appeal Organiser David Cosh.

'David works full time, but has still found the time to organise a great Poppy Appeal.

'Without his expertise and energy, we would not have raised the fantastic sum that I have mentioned. So, thank you to David and everyone else.

'There are always lots of other people to thank, but one final thanks is to the Ivybridge Town Council who help us fund this day, and print our programmes as well.

'Our mayor, Trevor Parsons, has nominated the Poppy Appeal as his chosen charity for his term of office, so look out for further fundraising events in the future.

'Thank you to the entire community for showing fantastic support yet again on both Armistice Day on for Sunday's service.

'Every penny of the Poppy Appeal goes to welfare cases – none of it goes to admin cost.

'This is paid for by member's subscriptions, which is why I am appealing for more members at just £14 per year.

'Anyone can join; you do not have to have a service connection'.

The mayor Cllr Trevor Parsons said: 'It was incredible to see so much support on Remembrance Sunday.

'It makes me extremely proud to be mayor of this town when so many people turn out for so a memorable an occasion.

'It was wonderful to see so many serving and ex-serving military personnel together as well as so many youngsters from various groups and organisations.

'I was very proud to see my son-in-law in uniform, following his recent tour in Afghanistan.

'The Plymouth Pipe Band were brilliant and the parade was very emotional.

'I felt very proud to lay a wreath on behalf of the town council, and I would like to thank everyone for supporting remembrance in such a special way'.

The Royal British Legion has been helping serving and ex-service men and women since its formation in 1921 – 90 years ago.

Sadly, no one from WWI is alive today, but the organisation continues to help those that were in conflicts and wars since.

There has only been one year this century when a British serviceman has not been killed on active service.

The Legion is increasingly involved with supporting families of those killed in action, and helping the injured from more frequent wars.

Mr Davis said: 'I am often asked what I think about the Help for Heroes Charity which was initially set up to help those involved in Iraq, and continues to this present day.

'Quite simply, they do fantastic work and raise thousands and thousands of pounds for our heroes.

'The Royal British Legion works hand in hand with Help for Heroes and, between us, we are able to offer the best possible support for our injured service personnel and the families of those that have been bereaved from the loss of their loved ones'.