A BAND of ten brothers from York who all fought in the First World War have been remembered at a special Armistice event today.

The grandson of one of the Calpin brothers was amongst 100 people, aged between one and 100, who gathered at the De Grey Rooms to commemorate the end of the war.

Mick Calpin, 68, and now living in Thirsk, whose grandfather Ernest was one of the ten, was a special guest at the event, organised by Make it York.

The Calpins, who lived off Walmgate, are thought to have been the biggest band of brothers to have fought in the conflict. Only the eldest, John, died, after returning home following a gas attack.

Mick said: “My grandfather would be very proud that I am here today. He was the only one of the ten brothers I really knew personally.

“He never talked about the war afterwards. I believe it was an amazing achievement for ten brothers to serve in the war and not only that, it was incredible that all of them returned home to York.”

He said the brothers were famous in 1914 when they all joined up, drawing praise even from the King, but had tended to become forgotten over the years, and he was pleased they were now being remembered again on the centenary.

The event also involved armed forces personnel, local Normandy veterans such as Ken Cook and Ken Smith, Mount School pupils, representatives from York Garrison, the Yorkshire Regiment, the North Yorkshire Police, York Army Museum, the Yorkshire Air Museum, the NHS, City of York Council, York Theatre Royal, the University of York, the Bar Convent and York Civic Trust.

On display was a specially designed ‘100’ tribute, made out of red flowers and silk poppies, designed and made by York florist Kathrine Armstrong-Bisson.

The Mount 35-piece school choir performed ‘The Ground’ by Ola Gjeilo and ‘Do Not Be Afraid’ by Philip Stopford, led by their Head of Music, Rachel Derbyshire.

Three winners of the York Remembers poetry competition, organised by the York Army Museum, chosen by York poet Doreen Gurrey, read out their poems.

Open to children aged 7-18, youngsters from across York were invited to come up with an original poem on the theme of WW1 remembrance.

‘History of World War I’ was read by Marcus Simpson, aged 8, ‘Lost in the Cold’ by Gabriel Smith, aged 11 and ‘Lying Here Dazed’ by Daniel Simpson, aged 14.

The other two winners were Abi Parr, aged 12 and Mohammed Karolia, aged 17.

Peter Moger, Acting Dean of York Minster, said it was fitting that every generation from York was represented there.