THE Tavistock community came together on Sunday to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War with a series of events.

As well as the annual Remembrance Sunday parade and two-minute silence, the day’s commemoration culminated in an international ‘cry for peace’ from Tavistock town crier David Turner.

Mayor of Tavistock Cllr Paul Ward said he was pleased that this year’s service was so well attended.

‘It was a great privilege to take part in the centenary Remembrance Sunday service and parade,’ he said. ‘As my fellow councillors, the mayoress and I processed down Drake Road towards Guildhall Square, I was struck by the size of the crowd that had gathered to mark this special act of remembrance. A good friend and long-term resident of Tavistock later told me that it was the largest congregation she had seen in 45 years.

‘The whole service was very moving but for me the most poignant moment was the two-minute silence, when all I could hear was the sound of water flowing over the weir. I am grateful to the Tavistock Lions for closing the roads. The absence of traffic noise greatly enhanced the solemnity of the occasion.

‘I was pleased to see so many assemble in the town hall after the parade to listen to Alex Mettler speak about the Tavistock war memorials and the lives, and deaths, of those whose names are written on them. It was a detailed, thoroughly researched account and I learned a great deal.

‘I should like to take this opportunity to thank the Royal British Legion for organising the service and parade and all those members of the church, services, children’s and youth groups, veterans associations and general public who took part and made the occasion a fitting tribute to those who gave their lives for our town and country. An occasion like this makes me feel proud to be part of the Tavistock community.’

In commemoration of Armistice Day, the bellringers of St Eustachius’ Church were hard at work ringing the bells for the service and then for a full peal for more than three hours.

With the clappers half muffled, the bells were rung for morning service at 9am and then again for the service at the war memorial at 11.15am. The muffles were then removed and the bells were rung ‘open’ as part of the national ringing at 12.30pm, during which five newly-recruited ringers took part.

The more experienced members then took part in a full peal of 5,039 changes of Grandsire Caters, which took three hours and 20 minutes from 2.30pm until 5.50pm.

Many people in the town heard the bells and enjoyed their sound as they commemorated both the cessation of hostilities in the First World War and the 700th anniversary of the sounding of St Eustachius’ Church.

Pictures by James Bird.