THIS year s Remembrance Day is likely to be more poignant than in recent years. I think more people are aware of its significance because of our troops being in Iraq and Afghanistan, said Royston parade director Chris Murphy. But he stressed: There sho

THIS year's Remembrance Day is likely to be more poignant than in recent years.

"I think more people are aware of its significance because of our troops being in Iraq and Afghanistan," said Royston parade director Chris Murphy.

But he stressed: "There should not have to be conflict and people losing their lives in order to promote public consciousness about coming to remember.

"People should come out each year to commemorate and remember."

This year's Remembrance Sunday parade in Royston will be led by a number of Second World War military vehicles.

This is because the Bassingbourn Barracks-based Minden Band is currently on a tour of duty in Germany and will not return until December.

Mr Murphy emphasised the fact that many people still believe Remembrance Sunday is about those who gave their lives in the First World War and the Second World War.

He said that since 1945 more than 16,000 British service personal have been killed in places such as the Suez Canel zone, the Falklands war and in Northern Ireland.

"There were a lot of places where British troops were deployed as mediators and peacekeepers and ended up being slaughtered," he said.

Mr Murphy said he is supporting a campaign to have an Armed Forces Memorial to those servicemen and women who died serving their country since the Second World War.

He said: "Remembrance Sunday is to remember all those who lost their lives and remembering those who are still serving.

"At the end of the day these are the people who are protecting the interests of our nation," he said.

Talking about the meaning behind Remembrance Sunday, he said: "It is the one time of the year when the whole community should come together to remember.

"The veterans have their memories of the Second World War and the younger veterans memories of more recent events in which they served.

"But it is a time when a whole community can remember from young to old," he said.

Mr Murphy, who is secretary of the Royston branch of the Royal British Legion and chairman of the Royston branch of the Royal Air Forces Association, said: "A lot of the people who will be standing there on Sunday have seen people dying in battle.

"They would have given anything for those people not to have perished."

- A short service will be taking place at the Royston war memorial, and at the American memorial in Priory Memorial Gardens on Saturday morning.

The 91st (Heavy) Bomb Group based at Bassingbourn during the Second World War lost more than 2,000 men.

- The Morden branch of the Royal British Legion will be holding this year's Remembrance Day parade at St Peter and St Paul's Church in Steeple Morden.

As in previous years there will be short services at Odsey (9.30am), Guilden Morden (10am) and Litlington (10.55am).

There will also be a ceremony and Act of Remembrance at the 355th Fighter Group Memorial at Litlington Road at 8.45am on Sunday.

A number of ex-American servicemen are expected to attend the ceremony.

- MP Oliver Heald will be laying a wreath at the Remembrance Day service at the war memorial outside the Manor House in Buntingford.

- The two-minute silence will be observed at the war memorial in Melbourn and then there will be a service in All Saints' Church.

There will be a short ceremony at the war memorial in the village on Saturday at 11am.

- The Royston branch of the Royal British Legion will be holding an auction at its headquarters in Mill Road on Sunday at noon.

The auction is to raise money for the Poppy Appeal. Last year the branch raised a record £17,652. Poppy Appeal organiser Joe McDonald said: "We are inviting all businesses to donate an item for the auction.

- For details call 01763 244560.