THE sacrifices our armed forces made in conflicts around the world were commemorated once again across Tameside.
Services and ceremonies took place in all parts of the borough on both Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day.
Thousands of people gathered to pay their respects and observe a two-minute silence.
In Ashton-under-Lyne, there was a parade and march on Remembrance Sunday to Ashton Parish Church, where a service took place before a wreath-laying ceremony at Ashton War Memorial.
The Civic Mayor of Tameside Councillor Betty Affleck, Tameside Council’s Interim Chief Executive Harry Catherall and Vice Lord-Lieutenant Sharman Birtles MBE JP DL were among the dignitaries in attendance.
There were also services and wreath laying in Cockbrook, Hurst, Park Bridge and Waterloo.
In Stalybridge, MP Jonathan Reynolds was joined by veterans, councillors and scores of people for a service at the war memorial on Remembrance Sunday. There was also a march through the town centre, led by Stalybridge Old brass band.
There was also a service on Armistice Day at St James’s Church in Millbrook.
Remembrance commemorations started on Saturday (November 9) in Audenshaw, where a short service and wreath-laying ceremony took place at the memorial stone in the grounds of Ryecroft Hall where local councillors and dignitaries joined the local community.
A similar ceremony followed on Remembrance Sunday at Audenshaw Cemetery.
The dank and drizzly November weather failed to stop the people of Dukinfield turning out in their hundreds at the century-old Chapel Hill war memorial on Sunday.
The Deputy Civic Mayor, Councillor Shibley Alam, represented the council while the service was also attended by ward councillors including the council’s Executive Leader Cllr Eleanor Wills, with Cllr John Taylor representing MP Angela Rayner.
Among the others laying wreaths were churches, schools, service organisations, the police and the Freemasons.
A service was also hosted by 5th/7th Dukinfield (St John’s) Scouts at Tame Valley War Memorial in Dukinfield Cemetery.
Tameside’s part in the national act of remembrance on Armistice Day was also held on the steps of Dukinfield Town Hall.
Led by the Deputy Civic Mayor Cllr Shibley Alam, it was also well attended by the public, with children present from Ravensfield and St John’s primary schools, as well as ex-service personnel.
In Mossley, the community came together on Sunday at the town’s war memorial for a service and wreath laying, overseen by Reverends Robert Balfour and Denise Owens from Mossley Methodist Church and St George’s Church respectively. Mossley Band also provided a musical presence, while a parade to George Lawton Hall followed.
Over in Droylsden, the memorial garden in Lumb Lane was the location for a service on Saturday before the main event on Remembrance Sunday. The local community came out in numbers for the parade to Droylsden War Memorial, where a service and wreath laying took place.
Residents young and old joined ward councillors including Allison Gwynne, representing MP Andrew Gwynne, at the Victoria Park Cenotaph in Denton on Sunday to respect those who have served our country, followed by a service at Christ Church.
There was also a peaceful and reflective atmosphere at a wreath-laying ceremony in Thornley Park in the Denton West ward and at St Mary’s Church in Haughton Green.
In Hyde, residents stood in silence to remember the sacrifices of our service men and women. MP Jonathan Reynolds, Civic Mayor Cllr Betty Affleck, ward councillors and Deputy Lieutenant of Greater Manchester Mark Llewellin were among those who joined the parade on Sunday to the town hall, where wreaths were laid.
Similar ceremonies also took place over the weekend at Werneth Low in Gee Cross, in Newton and in Godley.
And in nearby Longdendale, there was an act of remembrance at Broadbottom war memorial on Remembrance Sunday. Mottram Church and St Mary’s Church in Hollingworth held services before a wreath-laying ceremony took place at the Mottram Moor war memorial.