THE Ross branch of the Royal British Legion is preparing for its Remembrance Parade after a very busy year.

The branch has held innovative events this year to commemorate the 100th anniversary since the First World War began.

Using the logo, Ross Remembers, there has been and will continue to be a programme of commemoration events up until 2018.

On display in Ross Sainsbury's until November 10 are 105 drawings by John Kyrle High School pupils remembering the 105 soldiers whose names are engraved on the memorial at the Prospect.

The pictures come from a competition held by the branch in April and have been on display at various places within the town.

Branch secretary, Margaret Jones, said: "They really have been the highlight of our year. We are going out to primary schools over the next four years to get them involved.

"The Lea Primary School are involved- we are attending on the 11th- Armistice Day. We are going to their school assembly at 9.30am with our Standard Bearer.

"We will end up at the Market Square for the two minutes silence at 11am and maroons will be fired ."

For the first time this year they will read out every name of every solider remembered on war memorials throughout the HR9 area.

The Remembrance Day parade is on November 9, starting from the police station in Old Maids Walk ending at the memorial in The Prospect.

A service will follow in St Mary's Church.

The Poppy Appeal in the town is very successful- last year £27,000 was raised.

And earlier this year the branch received the Kyrle Pope Cup for the most effective branch in the county for the third time in a row.

They are also keen to point out it is not just about Ross, but also the villages surrounding the town.

Chairman Graham Aplin said: "We don't keep it just to our branch. We are there for everybody. These smaller branches and most of these villages had British Legion branches many moons ago.

"Over the years so many have closed- the ones that are still going are struggling in number terms. Once they are lost, they have gone. We are there to help them as much as we can."

Ross is hosting the RBL county rally next June.