WE SHALL remember them. Hundreds of York residents paid their respects to fallen Servicemen and women at the city's Remembrance Sunday commemorations.

Crowds risked overcast skies to gather at the Memorial Gardens, in Station Road, for the traditional ceremony and wreath laying.

A full civic party, including the Lord Mayor of York, Coun David Horton, the Sheriff of York, Coun Martin Brumby and the Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, Lord Crathorne, attended.

Representatives of the army, navy and RAF were joined by a parade of about 100 Second World War veterans, made up of members of York's ex-Service community.

Also present at yesterday's commemorations were representatives of the British Red Cross, The Salvation Army, the Scout and Guide Associations, cadet units, the Royal British Legion, North Yorkshire Ambulance Service and North Yorkshire Police.

A single gunshot marked the sounding of the Last Post, with Reveille following a second single shot.

After prayers and the inspection The Queen's Division Normandy Band led the parade to St Helen's Square, where the civic party took the salute.

Ex-RAF man and Second World War veteran William Hodson said the ceremony had been a "fitting tribute."

"It was very respectful. I was pleased to see such a good turn-out."

Edward Umpleby, a former private in the West Yorkshire Regiment and veteran of the Suez campaign, said: "A magnificent tribute. The weather was bad this morning, but plenty have still turned out to pay their respects."

Ex-Royal Signals man John Mortimer said: "It is a very important day. I hope it always attracts the crowds."

Coun Horton said all veterans, living or dead, were "owed a great debt."

He said: "We have no idea what sort of situation we would be in or life we would be leading if it was not for their selfless actions.

"We have so much to thank them for and I think the affection people have was shown today by the numbers that turned out, especially for the march-past."

Meanwhile, Remembrance Sunday parades were held at Kirkbymoorside, Bilbrough, Helmsley, Pickering, Old Malton, Malton, Elvington, Pocklington and Harrogate.

John Bowes, Mayor of Kirkbymoorside, said: "The weather faired up and the parade and service were both excellent. It was a good way to honour those that gave their lives."

As well as the parades, 22 commemorative services were held at the region's churches yesterday.

One was at Stamford Bridge, where torrential early rain forced cancellation of a planned parade.

East Riding and town councillor Hilary Saynor said: "We decided to do it all in the church and it worked very well. There was a good turn-out and the sermon was very thoughtful, very moving."

In a ceremony in the Falkland Islands on Saturday, the Duke of York, laid wreaths in memory of his comrades killed in the Falklands War in 1982. The Prince served as a helicopter pilot.

Updated: 11:45 Monday, November 11, 2002