Our heroes remembered

THE service of remembrance at Burley-in-Wharfedale held more poignancy this year following the death of Flight Lieutenant David Stead, killed in action in Iraq.

His death appeared to have brought the act of remembrance more into focus and the service was much better attended than it has been in recent years.

Flt Lt Stead's family were present to hear a sermon by the Methodist minister, the Rev Helen Harrell. Prayers were led by the vicar, the Rev Michael Burley.

Jim Shelton, the village's Poppy Appeal organiser and representative of the Royal British Legion, read the names of the fallen on the Roll of Honour.

At the moment which always emphasises the enormity of the sacrifices made by young men from the village, a hushed congregation heard for the first time since the Second World War a name added to those who had been killed in the service of their country - that of Flt Lt David Stead.

The Last Post and Reveille were sounded by Malcolm Sexton.

The Royal British Legion standard was carried by Geoffrey Cawood, escorted by Wharfedale Air Cadet Sgt Matthew Briggs and Cadet Chris Dickinson.

The standard of the Women's Section of the Royal British Legion was carried by Cpl Emily Porter, escorted by Cpl Hannah Williamson and Cadet Andrew Lynam.

They and other cadets from Flt Lt Stead's former cadet unit, the Wharfedale 1224 Squadron, were under the charge of Pilot Officer Arnott.

Wreaths were laid on the altar by representatives of the Royal British Legion, by Coun Caroline Jones on behalf of Ilkley Parish Council and by Flt Lt Stead's family, led by his father Richard and mother Pauline.

There was a touching moment as Flt Lt Stead's three year-old daughter Amelia and his four year-old niece Maia laid posies among the wreaths.

After the service, the wreaths and posies were re-laid at the village war memorial in Grange Park.

The Rev Burley led a short service of remembrance there and dedicated a plaque in memory of Flt Lt Stead.

Malcolm Sexton sounded the RAF Reveille.

In other areas around the Wharfe Valley, people paid tribute to the memory of those who gave their lives for Britain in conflicts since 1914.

In Addingham, parish council chairman Gordon Campbell laid a Remembrance Day wreath on behalf of village leaders.

He said he was pleased at the good turnout for the dignified ceremony and praised so many youngsters for turning out.

Coun Campbell was particularly impressed by the smartness and presence of so many boys and girls in the different scouting and guiding organisations.

This year, the War Memorial benefited from having overgrowing yew trees removed, making it easier for spectators on Main Street to view the ceremony.

And a public address system organised by parish councillors also make it possible for everyone to hear what was going on.

Coun Campbell said: "It was a good turnout for the day but it was a pleasant day."

In Ilkley, Bradford Lord Mayor Valerie Binney and her consort husband Donald laid a wreath on behalf of the city at the War Memorial on The Grove.

District Councillor Martin Smith attended the ceremony and said he was very pleased at the number of young people who attended.

Services around Wharfedale pay tribute to the war fallen

AN excellent turnout of former servicemen and women, residents, children and councillors marked Remembrance Sunday in Otley.

A service was held on Friday at Otley's Remembrance Garden, off Bondgate, and again on Sunday with those taking part moving onto the Church of Our Lady and All Saints Catholic Church.

Doris Gagen, secretary of the Otley Royal British Legion, said attendance had been better than in previous years.

"There were a lot of people in the Remembrance Garden and the service at the catholic church was packed. I don't know if it was because it was the 60th year, or the war in Iraq which brought war home to people, but there were a lot of people," she said.

Members of the Otley branch had visited schools in the run up to the event to discuss what remembrance meant.

"There was quite a lot of young people both in the Remembrance Garden and at the service, which was good," added Mrs Gagen.

She also paid tribute to all the collectors who helped collect around £2,500 from the sale of poppies.

"People don't realise that it's not just Remembrance Sunday that the work gets done, I've had quite a lot of people helping me this year and I'd like to thank them," she added.

At Bramhope, a small contingent of musicians from the Yeadon Air Cadets, based at Coney Park, represented the main band which went to Otley.

A good turnout of ex-servicemen, councillors and brownies and rainbows met at the Robert Craven Memorial Hall before moving onto the service at the memorial in Eastgate.

The service was conducted by the Rev Michael Siddle and the first wreath was laid by Deputy Lieutenant David Dinmore. Bramhope Council chairman Colin Robertson laid a wreath, followed by Ralph Turner, president of the Bramhope RBH and one by the air cadets and girl guides.

Crosses were placed while names of the dead were read out and after the Last Post and a singing of Abide With Me, a service was held at St Giles Church.

The public turned out in force in Guiseley to join war veterans in remembering those who gave their lives.

People attending the church service and the memorial at the cross said the crowd was the biggest it had been for many years.

Coun Graham Latty, who laid a wreath on behalf of the Lord Mayor of Leeds, said the attendance was the best he had ever seen.

The commemoration of the fallen began with a service at St Oswald's Church, led by the Rev Graham Atherton. Those attending then joined a march with the cadet band and the British Legion to the cross where a short memorial service and two minutes silence took place.

Coun Latty said the format had been slightly different this year, with an earlier church service and the two minutes silence at the memorial.

He said: "It went very well indeed, and we had the best turnout there we have had in years.

"It might be the fact that the conflict we have going on in Iraq is bringing these things to people's minds. It is much more at the forefront."

"Whatever it was, I don't like to think it was just the weather. The church was packed, and when we got to the cross it was a huge turnout."

Deputy Lieutenant Michael Fox laid a wreath at the cross, which was joined by a number of others.

Coun Latty described the British Legion veterans as "super people."

In Pool-in-Wharfedale, school children laid crosses as the names of the dead were read out, and wreaths were laid by the chairman of the parish council Hazel Lee and by a former British legion member.

Parish Clerk Betty Swift said: "It was absolutely superb. It was a beautiful day to start with. The police were very co-operative - they stopped the traffic for the two minutes silence, which made a difference.

"It was one of the nicest remembrance services we have ever had. I know everybody agreed that it really was a superb service."

Remembrance began with a service at the Methodist church led by the Rev Alistair Newton, and continued at the cenotaph.