As Britain fell silent on the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month, I was honoured to be invited to join staff and students once again at Brownhills Ormiston Academy for their Act of Remembrance, and together we remembered, with solemnity and dignity, all those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country.  It was a very poignant morning, with thought provoking poems and the distinguished sound of the “Last Post”.

On Remembrance Sunday local communities came together at services and parades across my Aldridge-Brownhills constituency to pay their respects to those who made huge sacrifices for our freedom and to remember all those who served our country. Very poignantly this year we remembered those veterans who served in the Falklands War 40 years ago.

I was honoured to lay a wreath once more at the War Memorial in Aldridge, and later in the day to attend the parade and service at St John’s Church in Walsall Wood.

I would like to pay particular thanks to Tam Miller for all of his work on behalf of the Aldridge Branch of the Royal British Legion. After many years of keeping us all in order Tam yesterday announced his retirement as the Sergeant of our annual proceedings. I know how much Tam will be missed in future years. Thank you to him for all of his service and dedication to our local community.

As we came together, I felt very proud that the determination to remember the servicemen and women of our country continues, dignified and undimmed.

Lest we forget.