Honouring the fallen

Published: 19 November, 2010
by TERRY MESSENGER
photos by ANDY BARKER

CROWDS paying tribute to Britain’s war dead at Remembrance events in Islington are growing year by year, said the secretary of the borough’s veterans association this week.

Swelling numbers at parades and services reflect a higher regard for the armed forces resulting from British engagement in Iraq and Afghanistan, said Ronald Ranger of Islington Veterans Association.

He was speaking after 1,500 people turned up to pay their respects at a Remembrance Sunday parade down Upper Street in Islington,

Mr Ranger, 67, who served in Northern Ireland during the 1970s, said: “It’s heartening to see people turn out to pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

“When I was in Northern Ireland, people hardly knew about it. People just didn’t turn out.”

Marchers paraded on Sunday from Highbury Fields to the war memorial at Islington Green.

Among those in the procession were Holloway Adventurers and Pathfinders Drum Corps, the Islington Veterans Association, members of the Honourable Artillery Company, Sea Cadets, the Air Training Corps and the police.

Firefighters lined up outside Islington fire station on the route to pay their respects.

Spectators joined the march, which ended with an inter-faith service and wreath-laying ceremony.

Islington MPs Emily Thornberry and Jeremy Corbyn were among those laying wreaths of poppies at the war memorial.

Later in the day, ceremonies were staged at the war memorials in Spa Green, Finsbury, and Manor Gardens, Holloway.

Members of the veterans association were invited for a free drink at The Barnsbury in Liverpool Road after the march.