VETERANS were joined by about 250 people of all ages on Sunday for the Act of Remembrance at Peeblesshire County War Memorial.

At least 28 poppy wreaths were laid to remember those who lost their lives in war.

In the words of the Kohima Message, read by Michael Stark: “When you go home tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow, we gave our today.”

It was the first remembrance service since the memorial’s centenary was marked by a re-dedication ceremony exactly a month ago on October 13.

Making the call to worship at the multi-denominational event, Reverend Father Tony Lappin, of St Joseph’s Church, Peebles, said: “At the eleventh hour of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month, the guns fell silent on the Western Front, to bring an end to the First World War.”

Pausing to let the words sink in, he continued: “Our nation and Commonwealth has recalled that moment through the Armistice and remembrance events down through the decades.

“Decades during which the men and women, of our armed services, have continued to pay the ultimate sacrifice.

“And so, all these years later, we stand here today to remember the lives sacrificed in the service of our country. And those traumatised and injured in conflict.

“We pray to God our Father that we may have such a devotion, to justice and freedom, that the heroism of all who fought, and still fight, may continue to be remembered in a nation of service and in a world of peace.

“From the prophet Micah, we hear: ‘And what does the Lord require of you, to act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly, with your god’.”

Following the hymn, ‘Dear Lord and Father of Mankind’, there were two readings by the joint head prefects of Peebles High School.

First, Rio Bhatia read Chapter 21, verses 1-7 of Revelations; and Fraser Carlotti read the 1918 poem ‘We Shall Keep the Faith’, by American poet Moina Michael.

Inspired by James McCrae’s ‘In Flanders Fields,’ it includes the lines: “We cherish, too, the poppy red that grows on fields where valour led; it seems to signal to the skies that blood of heroes never dies, But lends a lustre to the red of the flower that blooms above the dead in Flanders Fields”.

Janette Cameron, of Peebles Old Parish Church, led a prayer before the sentence from the Book of Lamentations, Chapter 3 verses 21 to 23, by Gary Marshall of Peebles Evangelical Church.

The two-minute silence commenced.

At its finish, Sheila Stark read the immortal words of Laurence Binyon: ‘For the Fallen’.

Led by the Lord Lieutenant of Tweeddale, Sir Hew Strachan, wreaths were laid by representatives of: The House of Lords; the House of Commons; the Scottish Parliament; Scottish Borders Council; the Community Council of the Royal Burgh of Peebles and District; Royal Navy; 45 Commando, Royal Marines; 52nd Lowland, 6th Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Scotland; the Royal Scots Regimental Association; Royal Air Force; Soldiers, Sailors, Air Force and Families Association; Commonwealth War Graves Commission; Peebles Burgh Silver Band; Peebles Ex-Servicemen’s Pipe Band; Royal Burgh of Peebles Callants’ Club; the Rotary Club of Peebles; the Round Table; Lowland Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association; Lothian and Borders battalion - Army Cadet Force; Lodge Peebles Kilwinning No.24; Peebles Bowling Club; Girl Guide Association; 1st Tweeddale Scouts (Peebles); 1st Peebles Boys Brigade and Peebles High School.

Emma Herd, of St Peter’s Episcopal Church, Peebles led a concluding prayer before Peebles Burgh Silver Band struck up the national anthem.

The pipes and band concluded with ‘The Black Bear’.