People’s awareness of present day conflicts brought especial urgency and poignancy to the Remembrance Day service by the War Memorial on Sunday 9th November. Some were remembering relatives lost in past conflicts and some were aware of family members in constant danger in Iraq and Afghanistan, but everyone must have been conscious of all victims of war in senseless and avoidable conflict all over the world and were renewing their resolve to look for peaceful resolution of bitter and divisive issues. Egremont Today has proudly made its own contribution to the Royal British Legion.

As usual it was very heartening to see the youth of our town represented in the march, scouts, guides, cadets and badgers among them, acting with admirable discipline and respect.

It is a great pity that a very small number of adults failed to match the behaviour of the children and acted with a shocking show of disrespect during the two minute silence which caused serious offence to those taking part in the service. We publish the following letter from Councillor Sam Meteer, regretting that it was made necessary.

Sir,

Like many others I attended the memorial service at the Cenotaph on Sunday 9th November. Unfortunately, this was marred by several incidents.

First we had the man who thought it was OK to walk past the cenotaph with his paper during the two minute silence and then go down towards Bookwell. A lady walked through the gathered onlookers towards South Street, and a bloke outside the Bluebell decided to make or receive a call on his mobile phone. All these incidents occurred when the parade was lined up at the cenotaph either just before the start of the service or during it.

I think the people involved in the incident showed lack of respect for those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. I say to them, "Hang your heads in shame."

SJ Meteer