Remembrance Sunday 2024: Services in Darlington and Durham

People across the North East and North Yorkshire took part in Remembrance Sunday services today, to commemorate the contribution of British and Commonwealth military and civilian servicemen and women in the two World Wars and later conflicts.

In Darlington, following a Remembrance Sunday service, in Holy Trinity Church, a procession made its way to the town's cenotaph in the grounds of Darlington Memorial Hospital from about 10.45am - which I must say was a very impressive sight. 

The partitipants gathered round and we heard a member of the Darlington Royal British Legion speak those very poignant words of a poem with the crowd repeating 'we will remember them'. 

The crowd must have been in its thousands with so many young children attending which was lovely to see. 

A bugler then sounded The Last Post and Mayor Cllr Bob Donoghue led Darlington into the two-minute silence at 11am. 

After the silence, then came the laying of the wreaths by many different Darlington trusts, organisations, clubs and representatives, who all paid their respects with a wreath of poppies.

At the end of this the cenotaph was filled with the red poppies. 

The congregation of different troops and clubs then gathered back together and proceeded to march around the crowds whilst they all clapped as they went past. 

MP for Darlington, Lola McEvoy, said: "It’s a fantastic turnout from people all across the town, and today is truly important for our town, our community, and our country."

Lola McEvoy laying her poppy wreath on the cenotaph (Image: Terry Blackburn) She added: "It's a time to honour those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to keep us safe, as well as a moment to reflect on those currently serving and the challenges they face.

"It’s essential that our respect remains for them. I want to emphasise that anyone who is willing to put their life on the line to protect us should always receive the support they need when they need it- this is something that our Government is determined to do."

Here are some images of the event in Darlington:

Troops at the cenotaph in Darlington today on Remembrance Sunday (Image: Terry Blackburn) Many poppies were laid on the cenotaph as thousands came to pay their respects (Image: Terry Blackburn) Crowds gathered around the cenotaph in Darlington (Image: Terry Blackburn) Similar services were held across the region, including in Durham, where a Remembrance Sunday Service was held in Durham Cathedral.

It was followed by Durham’s annual Remembrance Parade, with hundreds of serving members of the Armed Forces from all over the UK taking part.

The parade, organised by the City of Durham Parish Council, was led by the Band and Bugles of Durham Army Cadet Force and included a strong detachment from the county Regiment, the Rifles, proud successors to the Light Infantry and the Durham Light Infantry.

Here are some images from the Remembrance Sunday of commemorations in Durham:

Durham Remembrance Sunday service parade (Image: Sarah Caldecott) Durham Remembrance Sunday service (Image: Sarah Caldecott) Durham Remembrance Sunday service (Image: Sarah Caldecott) Some images from Sunderland:

Service personnel and veterans from across Sunderland join the Mayor of Sunderland, Councillor Allison Chisnall, as the city pays its respects at the annual Remembrance Parade and Service at the War Memorial in Burdon Road (Image: North News & Pictures northnews.co.uk) People gathered at the War Memorial in Sunderland (Image: North News & Pictures northnews.co.uk) Playing of The Last Song (Image: North News & Pictures northnews.co.uk)