Gallery: Schoolchildren lay a poppy on the graves of war heroes at the Fields of Honour in Ipswich

Rev. Andrew Dotchin gives a service in The Fields of Honour in the Ipswich Old Cemetery on Friday, 7 November.

The Mayor of Ipswich Bill Quinton and his deputy Hamil Clarke both attended the service held at the Fields of Honour at Ipswich Old Cemetery today, along with members of the Royal British Legion, The Boys’ Brigade Band, Suffolk Royal Anglians Association, HMS Ganges, and representatives from the Fire Brigade attended for the first time.

Over 200 children from Ipswich primary schools including Springfield, Sidegate, St Johns and Morland came along to lay a poppy on the graves of war heroes and all stood quietly and respectfully as Rev Andrew Dotchin led the service.

Adam Jewell, a teacher from Sidegate Primary, said: “It’s important to these children to take part in the act of remembrance and to remember those who have given their lives for all of us and also to take part in something of importance with the community.”

The Fields of Honour consists of two memorials, one for each World War, and Ralph Girling, vice chairman of the Ipswich branch of the Suffolk and Royal Anglian Regiment, said he hoped both would gel together in the service.

“It’s not just about dead people – there are still people serving for our country”, he added.

“Because it is a hundred years it is special. My granddad was killed in the First World War so it is special to me.”

Mr Dotchin said it was a privilege to lead the service, and in his moving speech he talked about the way people would find out if someone liked them before the days of Facebook – by picking the petals off a flower and hoping there would be an odd number so it would land on “she loves me”.

He then picked up his remembrance poppy with just one petal and said: “Millions of people have loved us and we stand her to say thank you, to remember and to be people who decide to love rather than to hate.”

Mr Quinton was invited to lay a wreath on behalf of the people of Ipswich, the chairman of Suffolk County Council, Christopher Hudson was asked to lay for the county as well as the leader of Ipswich Borough Council, David Ellesmere. A representative from the history department of University Campus Suffolk laid a wreath along with a group of pupils to represent all the school children of the town.

Neville Woolnough, a musician in The Boys’ Brigade Band, said he found the service very moving.

“The profile was beginning to fade but it is so revitalised now partly due to the current conflicts and also because of the centenary”, he said.

“It’s very important that the children realise what the importance of these things are, I don’t think any one of us can appreciate the scale of it – it wasn’t just planes flying over it was hand to hand combat, when you think about the numbers that we lost in the First World War it is horrendous.”

Parade commander of the Royal British Legion Ipswich branch, Martin Combes was there with his wife and Legion secretary Liz Combes, along with her sister and standard bearer Julie LeMarrec and their two granddaughters.

Mr Combes’ father served in the Second World War for the Royal Navy and was then the president of the Royal British Legion Ipswich branch, he died three years ago and Mr Combes had brought along his medals for the first time.

Mrs Combes said: “I get a bit emotional - we have always had family who have served so we have a strong military background.”

Their granddaughters, Rebecca, 6, and Hannah, 4, have attended the service every year since they were born.

When asked if she knew why they she was here, Rebecca said: “Because we go to lay the wreath for the soldiers who fought and died in the war.”

See our Remembrance day page for more on Ipswich’s commemorations