“I wish you could all stand here and see what I’m seeing said,” said Rev Will Hughes to a huge crowd gathered around Petersfield War Memorial this morning.

“Look at this extraordinary sight: This is who we are.”

Petersfield didn’t disappoint on Remembrance Sunday with hundreds gathering around The Square and High Street for those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

The morning followed a familiar and well-established routine with a parade forming in Swan Street car park before heading into The Square.

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Hundreds gathered around The Square before the traditional parade and service outside St Peter's. (Iliffe Media/Paul Ferguson)

The massed ranks of the Royal British Legion and Armed Forces were followed by cadets, scouts and pupils from local schools, with crowds gathering around The Square well before Rev Hughes began the service at 10.25am.

He hailed the “breathtaking” scale of the crowd before urging residents to choose love over hate and fear, and to never forget the courage of those who fought.

He said: “The cost of war isn’t in numbers or money cost, but in names – though they may be long past, those names are precious to friends and family.

“We come to remember them and what they stand for.

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Civic figures and councillors were among the many who laid wreaths at the foot of the war memorial. (Iliffe Media/Paul Ferguson)
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The Rev Will Hughes gave a typically moving service, urging attendees to choose love over hate. (Iliffe Media/Paul Ferguson)

“It’s far too easy to define ourselves by what we stand against and the world is full of it right now. But how much braver, and how much better it is, to choose not what we stand against, but what we stand for.”

He added: “I’m not entirely sure what the word ‘woke’ is but I do know how important it is that we wake up.

“The choice between hope and hate, to choose what we stand for, and to celebrate what we believe in and love.”

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Damian Hinds MP was one of the first to lay a wreath. (Iliffe Media/Paul Ferguson)

The address and prayers were read by Petersfield RBL President, David Lodrick, and town mayor, Cllr Jamie Matthews, respectively, while the two-minute silence was, as always, impeccably observed.

East Hampshire MP, Damian Hinds, was among the many civic figures, dignitaries and representatives who laid wreaths while the Roll of Honour was read out.

Thanks were also given to St Peter’s, Churcher’s College, Petersfield RBL, Petersfield Town Council and EHDC for their part in organising the planning the service.

More details and pictures from today’s service and others around East Hampshire in this week’s Post & Herald.