HIGH Wycombe fell silent this morning as hundreds lined the streets to pay their respects to servicemen and women who have served and are serving across the world.

Dignitaries gathered in the High Street as the parade of members of the Royal British Legion, serving units, cadets and ex-service personnel marched past.

They saluted to Station Commander of RAF High Wycombe Mark Heffron, the Mayor of High Wycombe, Chauhdry Shafique and the Deputy Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire, Air Marshal Sir Colin Terry.

The parade then marched to the War Memorial in Church Street where RAF Chaplain Reverend Ashley Mitchell welcomed the people gathered.

He said: "We meet in the presence of God. We commit ourselves to work in penitence and faith for reconciliation between the nations, that all people may together live in freedom, justice and peace."

Then High Wycombe legend Monty Seymour read "They shall not grow old" before the last post was sounded and the two minutes silence was held.

A prayer was then said and a hymn sung before a church service was held in All Saints, led by Reverend Hugh Ellis.

Mayor Cllr Shafique said he had been very busy with the Poppy Appeal.

He said: "Throughout this appeal it has been fantastic meeting all the people and selling all the poppies and thinking about all the sacrifices made by our soldiers in the first and second World Wars and all over the world, and in particular the Commonwealth and the 1.7million Muslims who lost their lives as part of the struggle."

Chairman of the Mosque Committee, Sajid Ali, said being part of the Poppy Appeal has been a great opportunity to see the community working together.

RAF High Wycombe helps to run the parade as they have the Freedom of the District and they are a serving unit in the area.

Group Captain Mark Heffron said there are 62 personnel from RAF High Wycombe on operations at the moment.

He added: "We not only remember those who have given the ultimate sacrifice but those who are away at the moment all over the world."

MP for High Wycombe, Steve Baker, said: "I am delighted we do still remember. This year, as last year, we see great forces at work in the world.

"There are enormous social, political and economic forces at work.

"Today is a good day to take stock and think about how we must continuously strive for peace and prosperity."

A member of the public, Brian Taylor, who paid his respects said: "It is good to see part of the town out paying their respects.

"The servicemen and women don't have to do it. It would be a poor world without them, if you think of all the wicked things that would have gone on without them."

Other services took place throughout the south Bucks district.