THE importance of Remembrance Sunday as a solemn, civic occasion is ingrained in Southport life.
Ever since the guns of the First World War fell silent at 11am on November 11, 1918, both those who fought and their families and descendants have paid tribute to all who made the supreme sacrifice in numerous conflicts.
And the Southport Visiter has always prided itself on our coverage of the commemorative services and parades held across the resort and its districts.

Local Sea Cadets take part in the parade

These photographs from the Visiter archives show both dignitaries and ordinary people paused in quiet reflection during ceremonies in Lord Street.
Among the shots from the 1990s are featured two highly respected and admired figures, both recently lost to Southport and their loved ones.
Cllr Terry Francis, who died in September after representing Kew ward for 20 years, is pictured standing at the wreath-laying ceremony at Lord Street Monument in November 1996, during his year as Mayor of Sefton.
Beside him is his wife, Valerie, who was Mayoress.

The late Terry Francis, Mayor of Sefton 1996-7, resplendent in mayoral chain and poppy

Captured wreath in hand in an image from the 1990s is the late Colonel George Appleton OBE, who lived in Shore Road and died last autumn aged 93.
Col Appleton was an active member of the local branch of the Normandy Veterans Association and had been the first member of the King’s Regiment to land in the D-Day operation of 1944.

The late Col George Appleton of Ainsdale lays a wreath at the Monument

Like Col Appleton, many of Southport’s veterans from the two world wars have now passed on.
It is interesting to see how the Visiter reported on Remembrance Day in 1964, when only two decades had passed since those D-Day landings.
Then, our reporter noted “the largest crowd for a number of years gathered at the Cenotaph in Lord Street”.
“It was pleasing to note that pedestrians and traffic, which could be seen along Lord Street, stopped and waited for the two minutes to be observed,” it was written.

Members of veterans groups gather in Southport Town Hall

That ceremony was attended by Southport’s then Conservative MP, Ian Percival, and in another ceremony in the resort the words of one local clergyman had a distinctly political tinge.
Rabbi Dr A.E. Silverstone, at the Remembrance Service of Southport’s Arnside Road Synagogue, said: “The standard of living in the world could increase perhaps tenfold, all poverty could be eliminated and starving millions could be adequately nourished if in all countries the money spent on weapons of destruction could be put to constructive purposes.”

A crowd gathers at the Lord Street Cenotaph in November 1964

Do you recognise yourself or anyone you know on these photos of past Remembrance Days? If so leave your memories below.

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