Crowds brave the rain to attend Carmarthen’s Remembrance Service

St Peter’s church in Carmarthen was packed with people who had gathered to remember the fallen on Sunday (Nov 12).

Despite heavy rain hundreds of people lined the route of the march to the church from the Guildhall Square. The armed Forces were well represented by the Army, Navy and RAF and community groups including the Scouts, Guides, Brownies and St John’s Ambulance were also present.

The parade made its way to the church along King Street and it was a remarkable sight to see lines of people in uniform marching in tome despite the absence of the band who were safely ensconced in the dry of the church.

Rev’d Dr Matthew Hill welcomed parishioners before the standards were carried in a procession to the front of the church. The sheer scale of this beautiful church only added to the grandeur of the occasion with civic dignitaries looking splendid in ceremonial robes. There was no presence of the Westminster Representative nor the Member of the Senedd although a wreath was placed on behalf of the Senedd.

The sermon focussed on the recurring theme of war in the world and the ‘cult of the individual’. The message was one of hope and a call for neighbours to come together and accept differences.

Following the service the parade marched to the War memorial where dignitaries and members of the armed forces and community groups placed wreaths to honour the fallen.

Following the placing of wreaths the parade marched past and saluted the dignitaries who were standing outside the town library. The parade then made its way back to Guildhall Square where the mayor of Carmarthen Cllr Wyn Thomas and the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Dyfed Medwin Hughes inspected members of the armed forces and those who had taken part in the parade.

Cllr Thomas said that Carmarthen had done the armed forces proud and he said despite the rain it was better than ever.

Heavy downpours did not deter the crowds from turning out for today’s Remembrance services across Carmarthenshire. In Kidwelly large numbers attended the church for a service before marching to the War memorial to pay their respects. Fr. James Flannagan officiated the service accompanied by the Rev Canon Brian Witt and Rev Roger Morley-Jones.

In Llanelli it was the usual top class pomp and ceremony with a band and large numbers of the armed forces, cadets and community groups marching to the Town Hall where large numbers of people had gathered to pay their respects. The service was officiates by the Venerable Dorrien Davies Archdeacon of Carmarthen, Bishop Elect of St. Davids. Civic dignitaries and politicians attended, including the Mayor of Llanelli Cllr Nick Pearce.

See all the pics in our gallery.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.