DESPITE a chill wind on Remembrance Sunday, hundreds of people turned out to honour those from Petersfield who died in war.

Petersfield vicar the Rev Will Hughes conducted the service in The Square, accompanied by Churcher’s College orchestra, St Peter’s Church choir and choirs from Churcher’s College and The Petersfield School sang together.

The parade to The Square from Swan Street was co-ordinated by Petersfield Royal British Legion (RBL) and led by the band of the Training Ship Active in Waterlooville.

Petersfield RBL chairman Clive Lewis said: “There was a cold wind, but the band gave us a beat to march to.”

After the service, the band led the way to the war memorial, accompanied by armed forces veterans.

Then came dignitaries, including Petersfield Mayor Jamie Matthews, East Hampshire District Council member Bob Ayer, East Hampshire MP Damian Hinds and Vice Admiral Sir David Steel.

They were followed by army, navy, air force, and police cadets, Scout and Guide groups, and representatives of the emergency services and the Salvation Army, all Petersfield based.

Since 1914 when the First World War began, 178 men and one woman from Petersfield are known to have died in war, and are named on the town’s Roll of Honour.

Some families suffered more than one loss – Albert, Charles, Frank and William Stubbington were killed in the First World War; Gerald, John and Reginald Coombs fell in the Second World War.

At the memorial, Lucy Humphris sounded the Last Post – she finished playing at 11am to start the two-minute silence, which ended with the sounding of Reveille.

Lucy has played the evocative military refrains at the past six Petersfield Remembrance Sundays.

Cadets from Petersfield Air Training Corps and Churcher’s College Combined Cadet Force then recited the names on the roll.

Wreaths were placed at the memorial, and the National Anthem was sung.

Chris Pett (90), a Parachute Regiment veteran from Petersfield who fought in the Second World War said his brother Roger was named in the Roll of Honour.

He added: “It’s important this continues.”