West of England events mark Armistice Day

Events have taken place across the West of England to mark Armistice Day.

Offices, schools and supermarkets observed a two-minute silence at 11:00 GMT to mark the time and date when the World War One armistice came into effect.

It was also the fifth anniversary of The Veterans Charity and Great Western Railway joint "Poppies to Paddington" Remembrance memorial.

The poppies travelled on 10 Great Western Railway (GWR) trains and were laid at the war memorial at Paddington Station in London.

A crowd of people fill a platform at London Paddington Station to mark Armistice Day
Hundreds of people observed the service at London Paddington [BBC]
A poppy wreath laid out on a table on a Great Western Railway train. In the middle of the wreath is a white piece of paper with the RNLI logo and the word 'lifeboats' written in blue font. There is a white piece of paper attached to the wreath which says "In remembrance. We will remember them. RNLI Portishead.
Volunteers from the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) placed the poppies on 10 GWR trains [BBC]
Rows of seats in the first class section of a Great Western Railway train. There are poppy wreaths placed on the tables and seats of the train.
The poppies have been recycled from wreaths carried during previous Poppies to Paddington ceremonies [BBC]

Wera Hobhouse, MP for Bath, who was in attendance, said the world was "not a peaceful place".

"We have to continue to work for peace and reconciliation and make sure that communities don't divide," she said.

Wera Hobhouse, MP for Bath, dressed in a black hat, black turtleneck and a black blazer with a poppy on the lapel. She stands on a railway platform. There are lots of people in the background.
Ms Hobhouse said the world is "not a peaceful place" [BBC]

Retired Royal Navy officer and husband of Princess Anne, Sir Tim Lawrence, said it is important to send a message to the leaders of today about the real cost of war.

"It's so important to remember the British, Irish and Commonwealth personnel who gave their lives so that we can enjoy the freedoms that we enjoy today," said Vice Admiral Sir Tim during the event at Paddington.

Vice Admiral Sir Tim Lawrence sits on a bench on a railway platform with people in the background. He wears a navy blue suit and tie with a white shirt. He has medals on the chest of his jacket and a poppy underneath.
Vice Admiral Sir Tim Lawrence, former Royal Navy Officer, was at the Paddington event [BBC]

In Bristol, a gathering took place at the British Sikh War Memorial.

About 100 people, including the Lord Mayor of Bristol, attended the event, which has grown in recent years.

There was also a ceremony at Arnos Vale Cemetery in the east of the city.

Two members of the armed forces in uniform stand in front of a cenotaph on Regent Circus in Swindon.
The service in Swindon was held at the cenotaph on Regent Circus [BBC]

In Swindon, people gathered at the cenotaph on Regent Circus to share in the two-minute silence.

A remembrance service was also held at the Royal Naval Air Service in Yeovilton, Somerset.

Local school pupils attended and commanding officers from across the station laid wreaths at the bottom of the main mast.

Poppy wreaths laid at the foot of the cenotaph in Swindon
Poppy wreaths were laid at the foot of the cenotaph in Swindon [BBC]
Navy soldiers in blue uniforms, both men and women, stand to attention in a line wearing poppies and uniform
Local school children joined commanding officers for a moment of silence [LH Phot Luke]
Wreaths laid on drums under a bell set in front of solders in the distance standing to attention with military aircraft on the ground behind them
Wreaths were laid at the base of the mast at RNAS Yeovilton [BBC]

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