COMMUNITY representatives and residents came together in Okehampton on Sunday for the Remembrance Day Parade.

There was a record turnout for this year’s solemnities, marking 100 years since the end of the First World War.

Parade commander Major Peter Williams, chairman of the Okehampton branch of the Royal British Legion, said: ‘I thought Sunday’s parade was extremely well-attended by everybody and the town itself was a lot more crowded than I have ever seen it before on Remembrance Day. It just goes to show that the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War has grabbed the attention of the nation and of Okehampton. It went extremely well.’

West Devon mayor the Rev Mike Davies, Okehampton mayor Janet Carpenter and Sgt Pennie Channing of Okehampton Police were among those taking part, along with town councillors, air and army cadets and the town’s MP Mel Stride.

And in the evening, an impressive number of people made the long walk up the hill to see the beacon lit beside the army camp above the town, one of a number in the surrounding area.

Cllr Davies, who lit the beacon, said: ‘It was very pleasing to see such a large crowd up there on the moor, with nice clear skies so we could see all the other beacons. It was good of Okehampton Hamlets Parish Council to organise it and it really paid off.’

Pictures by Doug Lander.See tomorrow's Okehampton Times for six pages of Remembrance Day coverage.