SIR – The service of Remembrance has a deep and personal meaning for me. However, every year I come away dismayed at the amount of time used up reading the names of local businesses and establishments. Laying a wreath is the least any of us can do. Remembrance is a humble act, it should not require special recognition for those who carry it out. We can of course read the card messages once the service is over.

My local service must give up close to half its time to this unnecessary process. I believe this time should be used to help us to remember and try to connect to these great events.

Listening to a list of the so-called great and good of the community does nothing in my opinion to aid Remembrance of the sacrifice made for us by the fallen.

Involve the local schools who have spent the whole week studying Remembrance. Have the children recite war poems or just say what Remembrance means to them, listen to the beautiful music provided by local bands whilst we reflect and give more time to religious leaders to help us understand our response to what we have lost.

It’s half an hour once a year, it’s too valuable a time to be wasted with a list of organisations. This would surely add so much more meaning to the service.

D Grice, Ashfield Crescent, Bingley