Ottery remembers

OTTERY’S Remembrance Day parade and service was well-attended, if somewhat soggy.

The parade from the Ridgeway to the Parish Church, led by piper Norman Ford, involved 150 representatives of the Royal British Legion, Cubs, Scouts, Guides, the fire service, Rotary, Lions, Salvation Army, and, for the first time, police cadets.

The Rev Preb Simon Franklin led the service, which included a sermon by the Rev James Grier, team vicar for the Clyst Mission Community. It was new curate Tim Treanor’s first remembrance service in the post. Youngsters covered a large wooden cross in poppies, the parish church choir sang the anthem For the Fallen and Hazel Abley gave the exhortation.

The Last Post was played and the wreath-laying then took place at the war memorial, featuring Bomber Command veteran Frank Bastin and Ottery mayor Glyn Dobson.

Honorary Ottery Poppy Appeal organiser Derek Baxter said: “It was an excellent parade, even though we battled a bit with the inclement weather.”

He said it looked like being another record breaking year for the Poppy Appeal collection in the town, with hopes of reaching �7,000.