Remembrance has been marked by veterans at Royal Star & Garter’s three Homes.

Services were held at the Solihull, Surbiton and High Wycombe Homes, which featured the Last Post, a two-minute silence and laying of poppy wreaths.

Some residents and staff also attended the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in Whitehall on Remembrance Sunday (10 November). Others attended civic services close to their Homes on the same day.

Royal Star & Garter provides loving, compassionate care to veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia, from three Homes. It has also launched new services reaching out into the community.

The Solihull Home held its service on Friday (8 November). Among those to give a reading was Elaine Butler, President of Warwickshire and Birmingham County Royal British Legion, and Peggy Britton from Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps.

Home Manager Katie McCauley also gave a reading, and there was poetry and hymns. Reveille and the Last Post was played by bugler Peter Tonks and Royal Star & Garter residents laid down poppy wreaths after observing the two minutes’ silence.

Residents from the Home also attended the Remembrance Sunday (10 November) service at the war memorial outside St Alphege’s Church, in Solihull.

The Surbiton and High Wycombe Homes held their Remembrance services on Armistice Day (Monday, 11 November).

The service at Surbiton was attended by Kingston Mayor Cllr Liz Green, while RAF Air Cadets from 1034 (Surbiton & Esher) Squadron also took part. It was led by Rev Kate Daymond, St Peter’s Church in Petersham, and included readings and hymns. The Last Post was played by trumpeter Vic Gilder, and Royal Star & Garter residents laid down poppy wreaths and raised the Union Flag outside the Home, after observing the two minutes’ silence. Afterwards, there was tea, cakes and live music entertainment, while the Mayor and cadets spent time chatting to veterans.

In High Wycombe, personnel from RAF High Wycombe attended the service. Residents laid wreaths and a bugler played the Last Post. Afterwards, they enjoyed tea, cakes and pastries together.

On Remembrance Sunday, residents from Surbiton and High Wycombe took part in the national parade past the Cenotaph with thousands of other veterans and serving personnel. Among those attending from High Wycombe was Cynthia who, in 1996, became the first female Air Commodore in the RAF’s history, and Ross who served in the Women’s Royal Naval Service. Those attending the service from the Surbiton Home included Army chef Bob, and Lily, who spent four years in the Women’s Royal Air Force.

In the run-up to Remembrance, residents took part in various poppy-based arts and crafts, which were later used to decorate the Home.

As part of Remembrance, Royal Star & Garter earlier revealed how a former soldier received a medal in recognition of the dangerous work he undertook 65 years ago. Michael Mossop served on Christmas Island shortly after hydrogen bomb tests had taken place, and was recently awarded the Nuclear Test Medal.

Royal Star & Garter is welcoming new residents in all its Homes. For more information on this, the new services it has launched, or to work for the charity, go to www.starandgarter.org