Hundreds stand in silent tribute to towns' war dead

After a remembrance service at St Michael's Church, led by the Rev Joseph Harper, the procession made its way to the memorial in Fort Road, accompanied by the Newhaven Youth Marching Band.

The two minute silence was broken by the sounding of the Last Post by an Air Training Corps bugler.

The Exhortation was said by Colonel Peter Howard-Harwood, president of Newhaven Royal British Legion.

Wreaths were laid by representatives for the Royal British Legion, HMS Pursuer, Army, Naval and Air cadets, Lions and Lionesses, Guides and Scouts, Newhaven Conservative Club and the Mayor of Newhaven, Cllr Dennis Forsdike.

The parade then continued to the Canadian War Memorial in South Way to honour the Canadian soldiers who died in the Dieppe raid. Wreaths were laid in the presence of four Canadian war veterans.

Some 30 former members of Second World War RAF air-sea rescue units paid their respects at a floating remembrance service in Newhaven Harbour.

Rescuers, who saved airmen shot down in the Channel, boarded a small flotilla which gathered around the Newhaven Lifeboat to hear a service broadcast over the vessel's radio. It was conducted by the RAF Air Sea Rescue and Marine Craft Section Club padre Peter Pain.

The ashes of the late Sergeant John Smith, an engineer fitter who served with 28 Air Sea Rescue Unit at Newhaven, were scattered at sea by his son and wreaths were floated on the water.

On Monday, about 40 people gathered outside Woolworths in Newhaven High Street and observed a two-minute silence.

The names of the Peacehaven men who died for their country were read aloud during the town's Remembrance service.

The procession met at the Meridian Centre and began the march to the Church of Ascension. A service, led by the Rev David Hider, was held in the Garden of Remembrance and the Exhortation said by Peacehaven Royal British Legion member Frank Easton.

Wreaths were laid by the RBL, the Deputy Mayor of Peacehaven, Sally Parsons, East Sussex County Council member for Peacehaven John Livings, the Royal Navy and Royal Air Forces associations, Lions and Lioness clubs, Peacehaven Residents' Association, scouts, guides, cubs, brownies and beavers.

Some 250 attended the Remembrance service at the church.

Later, a small group returned to the Meridian Centre where a wreath was laid by the mosaic clock.