Schools, towns and communities in Darlington and across the North East and North Yorkshire paused for a two-minute silence to reflect on the service and sacrifices of the Armed Forces on Armistice Day services.

In Darlington town centre, hundreds of people gathered on High Row to pay their respects on the eleventh day of the eleventh month.

Darlington remembers Armistice Day on High RowDarlington remembers Armistice Day on High Row (Image: Sarah Caldecott) John Smith, Chair of Darlington's Royal British Legion as Darlington remembers Armistice Day on High RowJohn Smith, Chair of Darlington's Royal British Legion as Darlington remembers Armistice Day on High Row (Image: Sarah Caldecott) Darlington remembers Armistice Day on High RowDarlington remembers Armistice Day on High Row (Image: Sarah Caldecott) At Barnard Castle School a 12-year-old bugler, Tom Staley, fulfilled his Last Post dream as he played at the school's Service of Remembrance. 

He said: “Six years ago I stood with my friends at the Remembrance Service and thought one day I will play The Last Post in front of the whole school,” said the Year 8 student.

“So I learned to play the trumpet and have now fulfilled that wish.

“It was quite stressful and I felt the weight on my shoulders of all the soldiers who had died but it was so rewarding.”

Bugler Tom Staley fulfils his dream as he plays The Last Post at Barnard Castle School’s Service of RemembranceBugler Tom Staley fulfils his dream as he plays The Last Post at Barnard Castle School’s Service of Remembrance (Image: Barnard Castle School) Students from the school read the names of the 209 'Old Barnardians', who made the ultimate sacrifice for King and Country, while their peers planted a simple wooden cross in an act of remembrance.

The Remembrance Day ceremony was also a poignant moment for headmaster David Cresswell whose father is English and mother German and had grandparents fighting on both sides of the Second World War.

Speaking to more than 700 pupils, aged four to 18, and staff from the senior and preparatory schools, he said: “Their experiences, though different, remind me that the impact of war reaches all people, regardless of side. For both my grandfathers, the war brought hardship and lasting memories that shaped their lives - and those of their families - long after it ended.”

He added that no matter what was happening in everyone’s life, Remembrance Day served as a reminder to have perspective.

On parade, Barnard Castle School’s Combined Cadet ForceOn parade, Barnard Castle School’s Combined Cadet Force (Image: Barnard Castle School) Lest we forget, students plant crosses at the Eye of God poppyLest we forget, students plant crosses at the Eye of God poppy (Image: Barnard Castle School)

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The town of Ferryhill in County Durham held a Remembrance Day service in the Town Hall gardens. 

St Luke's Church delivered the service and Andrew Potts performed the Last Post, in front of the large number of people paying their respects. 

Children at the Cenotaph for Armistice Day in FerryhillChildren at the Cenotaph for Armistice Day in Ferryhill (Image: Ferryhill Town Council) Ferryhill Town Hall display for Remembrance DayFerryhill Town Hall display for Remembrance Day (Image: Ferryhill Town Council) At Ripon Grammar School, in North Yorkshire, the whole school community gathered around their Memorial Stone to remember the fallen, including 100 former students and masters who were killed in the First and Second World Wars. 

Ripon Grammar School do a two minutes silence to honour those who have died fighting for their countryRipon Grammar School do a two minutes silence to honour those who have died fighting for their country (Image: Ripon Grammar School) Bugle boy playing the Last Post to mark the two minute silenceBugle boy playing the Last Post to mark the two minute silence (Image: Ripon Grammar School) The whole school gathered around the Memorial Stone to remember the fallenThe whole school gathered around the Memorial Stone to remember the fallen (Image: Ripon Grammar School)

Pupils of St Marys School in Thirsk honoured the memory of the brave crew of Halifax aircraft LL505, known as ‘S for Sugar,’ who tragically lost their lives nearly eighty years ago with a climb to the crash site.

On the night of November 22, 1944, the aircraft took off for a training mission over the Cumbrian Mountains. The crew encountered severe difficulties, and the Halifax crashed into the side of Swirl How in the Lake District, killing all on board instantly.

During the Second World War, the crew had been stationed at Baldersby Park, now the site of Queen Mary’s School.

To mark this historic and poignant anniversary, pupils from Queen Mary’s visited the crash site at 11am on Remembrance Day to lay a memorial and pay tribute to the crew who perished in service to their country.

Queen Mary's Pupils Climb to Crash Site on Remembrance DayQueen Mary's Pupils Climb to Crash Site on Remembrance Day (Image: Queen Marys, Thirsk)