MORE people than ever paid homage to those who gave their lives in two world wars and more recent conflicts at Remembrance Day parades and services across Halesowen and Sandwell.

Armistice Day on Tuesday was also marked at school assemblies and by businesses, where staff observed the traditional two-minute silence at 11am.

Royal British Legion parade organisers reported bigger crowds and more children and young people at Sunday’s events which also commemorated the centenary of the outbreak of the First World.

Afghanistan war hero helicopter pilot Lieutenant commander Richard Sturman took the salute at Cradley’s parade with Cradley MP Margot James and Halesowen and Rowley MP James Morris.

His father, parade organiser Harry Sturman believed the First World War anniversary had brought more people out to pay their respects and noted that many more poppy crosses were laid at the war memorial by members of the public.

The Halesowen Scouts Band played on Cradley’s parade and for the service at St Peter’s, which Mr Sturman said added “greatly to the atmosphere”.

More uniformed youth organisations took part in Halesowen’s parade than in previous years and played a bigger role in the service at St John the Baptist Church, where wreaths were presented by a Cub and Beaver and an army cadet read the Kohima prayer.

The town’s Poppy Appeal organiser, Elizabeth Kennan, said: “It was good to see more young people involved – it’s important that they are – because they are the future.”

An appeal in the News for more marshals to steward Blackheath’s parade and service at the war memorial at the Rowley Regis Crematorium and Cemetery was answered, enabling the event to run smoothly with an extra eight helpers and a larger police presence than expected.

Blackheath Royal British Legion secretary Mark Spilsbury was delighted to see more children in the crowds watching and said an estimated 1,200 people took part in the service.