VETERANS, schools, civic dignitaries and people living in and around Evesham gathered to pay their respects to their fallen soldiers. 

Heavy rain did not put people off in Evesham as crowds gathered around the War Memorial in Abbey Park to lay down a wreath to mark Remembrance Sunday.

It was a cold and wet Sunday morning (November 12), but that had not put off the town's annual parade, which began on Evesham's High Street and made its way down Bridge Street.

Evesham Journal: Evesham Rowing Club chair Simon Edwards and fellow rower Phil Nicholson (Royal Artillery) laid a wreath today on behalf of the club.Evesham Rowing Club chair Simon Edwards and fellow rower Phil Nicholson (Royal Artillery) laid a wreath today on behalf of the club. (Image: Evesham Rowing Club)It then finished in front of the War Memorial in Abbey Park ahead of a service at All Saints Church.

The Sunday service started at 10.30am and crowds were then invited for light refreshments at Evesham Town Hall. 

Evesham Journal: Cavendish Park Care Home held its coffee morning for its veterans. Cavendish Park Care Home held its coffee morning for its veterans. (Image: Cavendish Park Care Home.)Prince Henry's High School's head students, Lana Badham, Joshua Purfield, Beatrice Williams, came together to represent the school by laying a wreath on the war memorial.

Evesham Journal: Crowds had braced the rain to lay a wreath.Crowds had braced the rain to lay a wreath. (Image: Evesham Rowing Club)Among them, The De Montfort School (TDMS) had students lay down a wreath.

Other groups involved in the service included Evesham Sea Cadets, Evesham Noticeboard, Evesham Ladies Circle, Battle of Evesham Group, Evesham Rowing Club and many more.

Evesham Journal: The De Montfort School (TDMS) pupils took part in the parade.The De Montfort School (TDMS) pupils took part in the parade. (Image: The De Montfort School (TDMS))To mark the day, Cavendish Park Care Home had a display of more than 3,000 poppies they’d been working on since April.

Kim Malynn, from Cavendish Park Care Home, said: "Our residents, family, friends, and local community groups came together with a vision of what could be a sea of poppies.

Evesham Journal: Evesham Police contributing to the sea of poppies outside Cavendish Park Care Home.Evesham Police contributing to the sea of poppies outside Cavendish Park Care Home. (Image: Cavendish Park Care Home)"They wanted this to be as spectacular as possible.

"The task was on, we had no idea of how many poppies would be needed or even how many could be knitted or crocheted.

"Amazingly within weeks of our appeal, the poppies started to arrive in droves, much to the amazement and excitement of us all.

"The poppies kept arriving,  after 3,000, we lost count!

Evesham Journal: Residents, police, and other dignitaries outside Cavendish Park Care Home.Residents, police, and other dignitaries outside Cavendish Park Care Home. (Image: Cavendish Park Care Home)"Once we had placed the poppies on the nettings, with some over, we added pins to the poppies for people to wear, asking for a donation."

So far, they have raised £280 for the Royal British Legion.

Next Sunday (November 19) will mark the Bengeworth Parade, which will see organisations from across the county get involved in the remembrance event.

All organisations will meet at 10.30am at the Bengeworth Club car park.

The parade will be led by the Leamington Sea Cadet Band and will head to St Peter's church for a service that is due to end at 12pm.