A RECORD number poured into Marlow High Street for Sunday’s poignant Remembrance commemorations, with an estimated 6,000 people packing out the town centre.
Organisers said they were "bowled over" by the support from Marlovians from all walks of life who came to pay their respects in this World War One centenary year.
As well as numbers swelling for the parade itself, residents came out in force during a morning of tributes organised jointly by Marlow Town Council and the Royal British Legion.
Crowds gathered at the War Memorial on the Causeway for a service led by the rector for Marlow Reverend Dave Bull of All Saints Church, before an impeccably observed two minutes' silence at 11am.
Parade commader Lt Col Shaun Murphy, also chairman of the RBL branch, said: " The reaction of the town, it has been incredible.
"Frankly, I am just so impressed by the way Marlow reacts to Remembrance Sunday and it just keeps on getting bigger and bigger.
"I've heard people say it's the biggest and best in the county - I have no yardstick to measure it but who am I to argue!
"I am bowled over to be honest, espcially with the respect shown on the 11th too."
Mr Murphy said the small ceremony held on Armistice Day, November 11, also gets bigger each year, with motorists on the Causeway stopping to get out of their cars and observe Tuesday's 11am silence.
Brigadier Bill O’Leary, Deputy Lieutenant for Buckinghamshire, joined Sunday's parade and laid the first wreath on the memorial.
Around 40 more poppy tributes were laid on the memorial from the Mayors of Marlow and twin town Marly-le-Roi, Wycombe District and Bucks County Council, members of the armed forces and their cadets followed representatives of the many associations in the town.
Army reserve unit the 871 Postal Squadron of the Royal Logistics Corps, based at Booker, pledged their allegiance to the Marlow ceremony this year and turned out in force.
This year, Marlow was honoured with a visit from the Mayor of twin town Marly-le-Roi, M. Jean-Yves Perrot.
Marlow Mayor, Suzanne Brown, said: "This was the most wonderful turnout for Remembrance, and for the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War, and we are doubly honoured that the Mayor of Marly-le-Roi was able to join us."
The largest ever contingent of the Scots Guards Association Pipes and Drums Band took part in Sunday’s march from the RBL club on Station Approach and along the High Street after the sad death of drummer Archie Beaty at last year’s commemorations.
The widow of Mr Beaty, who collapsed and died at last year’s Remembrance Service, laid the Archie Beaty Memorial Wreath.
A small, private memorial service was held at the club for the Falklands veteran after the parade had returned.
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