REMEMBRANCE Day Service: St Mary's Church, Old Basing, was packed last Sunday, standing room only. Our vicar Father Alec, who served in Afghanistan, spoke powerfully, and the address and readings were by ex-service personnel.

The Parade of Standards was particularly moving and, after the service, when we were outside watching the placing of the wreaths by the war memorial, a Chinook helicopter flew slowly across the cloudless sky.

While listening to the names of the village men who were amongst the fallen there were tears in the eyes of many people there, me included, as I thought of both my father and uncle who fought at Amiens. Even the children present were remarkably quiet and seemed to appreciate the sobering atmosphere of this great commemorative event. It was all so poignant, and not just for those of us who had relatives who fought, died or thankfully, survived those terrible conflicts.