An emotional day; MAILBAG.

SUNDAY, November 8 and New Mill Church was packed.

At 11am the bugler played the Last Post and everyone bowed their heads and remembered all those in conflict - past and present.

People shared with the congregation their stories and memories and young people relayed excerpts of memoirs taken from soldiers and other members of the armed forces who served and gave their lives in what can only be described as horrendous and terrifying conditions.

A slide show had various photographs of men in the trenches and as the choir sang and the brass band played, tears were shed - myself included - and the air was heavy with an atmosphere I have not experienced.

The closeness of people who would normally be strangers, a certain look from someone who has many memories of those times gone by, I saw it in the eyes of the older people.

One could not help but be moved by this very special Remembrance Sunday and I am very proud to have been part of it all.

From the very young to the very old, everyone in our village came together for the same reason and my friend Gordon Bedford was moved by the amount of people who attended. After the service people followed the parade into the square - undeterred by the rain - where the Last Post was played again and that same atmosphere hung in the air in a kind of silent eeriness as people again remembered, a lot with personal experience, and some of us paying respect to all those who fought and are fighting for a better future. A deep unspoken respect could be felt as it touched each and everyone of us, a respect that moves you to your very core.

How proud those wearing the uniforms of the armed forces were, their heads held high for such an important occasion.

And so we went into New Mill Working Men's Club where the three wreaths were laid in the memorial room. We shared our thoughts of the morning and there was a real sense of camaraderie as everyone wiped away their tears and spoke about moving on and the future - the hopes we have for the younger generations and most of all for peace and the safe return of our soldiers in conflict and members of the other armed forces who serve and protect our country.

The seriousness lifted, the mood was quite jolly and I, for one, will be making a date for next year.

Our village certainly marked the day and I was left feeling quite nostalgic, emotional and very, very proud. Well done to all who played a part and the Vicar Sean Robertshaw for heading the service - it was lovely.

ANNE BROWNE New Mill