A HUGE illuminated red poppy shone on the hundreds who entered York's Barbican Centre for the Festival of Remembrance.

Lighting the outdoor forecourt of the Barbican, its message was as clear as the message of remembrance has been since the end of the Second World War.

The packed auditorium showed that it still struck a chord with the population of York.

Every seat was taken and, as the standards of the Royal British Legion, the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and the Army filed through the audience to rest beside the stage, the pride and debt felt by so many was far from hidden.

The ex-Servicemen and women present get older by the year. Their dedication to honouring those who fought for their country in two world wars and other major conflicts, including the Falklands War 20 years ago, seems to get stronger.

Last night, their thoughts were concentrated on 1942, the year of York's only major air raid and the decisive battle of El Alamein.

"We who served in the desert relive it many times," said Ted Griffiths, a veteran of El Alamein and President of the York branch of the Royal British Legion.

"Especially when we think of the sand storms that we had to contend with, when everything that we ate and drank tasted of sand.

"And we remember those who did not return."

The York air attack lasted 90 minutes and left the city devastated. The Guildhall was destroyed, York Railway Station was badly damaged, dozens of homes were destroyed, including a number in Nunthorpe Grove, and 19 people, including five nuns, died and 200 were injured.

The poignancy of bringing remembrance so close to home was boosted by music from the Normandy Band of the Queen's Division, and the voices of the York Philharmonic Male Voice Choir and the York Ladies.

Their songs told of the heartache of living apart from loved ones in That Lovely Weekend, of fears for their safety in Bring Him Home or of the optimism that they would be back - We'll Meet Again.

But, through it all, was the sense of honour that these events have come to symbolise.

The people of York showed again that the sacrifices made in armed conflicts will not be forgotten. Instead, they will be remembered with overwhelming pride.

Updated: 12:14 Monday, November 04, 2002