A ROYAL British Legion branch, which decided to break with tradition and boycott a major Remembrance service by holding one at a war memorial, has sparked division.

But holding rival services at Ripon has brought calls for a united poppy day front next year.

While Ripon Royal British Legion organised a service and wreath-laying at the war memorial in Spa Gardens, half a mile away the cathedral held its traditional civic service, attracting more than 900 people.

The cathedral is said to have held the city's official Remembrance service since 1922, when a memorial to Ripon's fallen in the First World War was unveiled.

Divisions were highlighted when each event held separate march pasts, the legion's ex-service people stepping out past the deputy mayor, Coun David Harrison, in one direction, while a short time later the mayor, Coun Paul Freeman, took the salute in the market place as members of the Royal Engineers exercised their freedom of marching through the city, but in the opposite direction.

The cathedral service was also followed by a short civic service at the Spa Gardens memorial.

Some members of the public reacted with disbelief that two separate events had been held and there were calls for the Royal British Legion, Ripon cathedral and the city council to try to ensure just one event was held next year.

Former Ripon mayor Mr John Richmond, who attended the cathedral service, greeted the rival event with disbelief and was among those calling for unity next year. He said the poignant moment of the legion standards being lowered in the cathedral had been sadly missed.

"Things seem to have gone awry and I certainly think it deserves an explanation. People were mystified why just one service was not held as in the past. There was also a feeling of annoyance and people were not too happy about the situation," said 65-year-old Mr Richmond.

A man who has been attending Remembrance Sunday events in Ripon for more than 40 years said people were totally confused to see two events taking place with marches approaching the market place in opposite directions at different times.

The chairman of Ripon Royal British Legion, Mr Maurice Rudd, said older members felt the original event in the cathedral followed by a service at the Spa Gardens, which had involved veterans in a 10am start and 12.30 finish, was becoming too long a day for them.

Some had been put off attending because of this but the legion believed the big attendance at its event in the Spa Gardens had vindicated the change.

Other towns and cities, he pointed out, had services at the war memorial to coincide with the two minutes' silence.

Mr Rudd said that, although the legion had proved its point, he recognised a long tradition had been broken and his organisation hoped something could be done next year to accommodate everyone at one event.

"We have tried our best to make it work so we could all be at the same event," he said.

He said the issue of organising a single service suitable for everyone had been raised as long as four years ago.

Mr Rudd felt it important to mark the two minutes' silence at 11am at the war memorial. This could then be followed by a service at the cathedral which people could also attend if they wished.

City Coun Alan Skidmore, who was mayor last year and is a retired lieutenant colonel with the Royal Engineers, based in Ripon, said he was aware some veterans felt the cathedral service followed by one in the Spa Gardens was getting too much for them.

He said people had made their stance and it was very sad there was a split after so long. "I think we could have reached some form of compromise. It is the one time everyone should be together," said Coun Skidmore, who felt the danger of fragmenting was that the event could eventually lose its impact.

His hope for next year was that "we can sit down sensibly" and sort things out. They had to respect the veterans and, if transport was a problem, that could be provided.

Canon Keith Punshon of Ripon cathedral said he deeply regretted what had happened and that the legion had decided to split the city. He believed the Royal British Legion could not have "a private and personal service" because the legion's policy was for the whole community to remember together on Remembrance Sunday.

Canon Punshon said the cathedral service had been shortened in a bid to try to persuade the legion to attend, pointing out that the cathedral's war memorial commemorated more names than the one in Spa Gardens.

The canon said transport had been offered for veterans who would find it difficult to attend both the cathedral and ceremony in the gardens.

Canon Punshon, a military chaplain for 22 years, who has struck close links with the Royal Engineers, said he knew of no other legion which had taken such action. It would have been impossible for about 300 soldiers and members of their families to have congregated in the Spa Gardens.

However, he said the cathedral was delighted to have welcomed among the 900 congregation Mr Andrew Cowie, a senior regional official of the legion .

Canon Punshon said there was great demand for a cathedral service, indicated by the large attendance, and he said they would continue to hold one.

But he hoped the legion could "get back together" at a service for the whole community