On last Friday’s Armistice Day, Haslemere Mayor Sahran Abeysundara, fellow town councillors and residents gathered at the war memorial for a service of commemoration with prayers led by Reverend Ruth Dillon, from Beacon Hill United Reformed Church.

“At the 11th hour, on the 11th day, of the 11th month, we in Haslemere stood in solidarity with communities across this great nation, the commonwealth and with Her Majesty Queen Elisabeth II, in remembrance of the many lives lost in the pursuit of our freedoms and liberties,” the mayor said.

“We stand here today not in praise of war and violence but in quiet reflection of the price of war.

“We remember the many men, women and children whose lives were lost, but whose souls are still remembered and revered.

“We can only honour their tremendous sacrifice with the depth of our gratitude and the strength of our conviction, as we commit ourselves to work towards peace, not only globally but in our own community.

“We pay homage to their selfless sacrifice, by acknowledging the underlying causes of war and working to help prevent it.

“Today, we also commend our veterans, the brave men and women who fought valiantly to uphold the laws, freedoms and privileges we today sometimes take for granted.

“Men and women who not just fought on the battle fields under our glorious flag, but people across this nation and the commonwealth who kept our home fires burning, they made boots, worked in munitions factories, broke enemy codes, tilled the fields to feed our nation, they too have our grateful thanks.

“As we see our country and the world we live in change, lets us as a community work together, to create a world we can be proud to live in, not just for ourselves, but also for our children and our children’s children.”