The Remembrance Sunday parade in Irvinestown was well supported as crowds lined the streets of the town for the annual commemoration on Sunday afternoon (November 13).

The parade formed up at St. Paul’s Primary School, Irvinestown at 2.45pm on Sunday afternoon and was led by Drumharvey Pipe Band, with ex-drum major Leslie Wilson as the parade commander.

The parade stopped at Sacred Heard Church, where two members laid wreaths on behalf of the Royal British Legion Irvinestown branch, and the Royal Air Force.

The Royal British Legion representative was Kenneth Armstrong, and the Royal Air Force representative was Jonathan Williams.

The parade moved on and the salute was taken by the Deputy Lieutenant for County Fermanagh, Shaun Pendry at Derryvullan North, St. Tighernach Church of Ireland.

After parading through the town, the parade halted back at the Cross of Sacrifice. The Irvinestown ceremony remembers the sacrifice made by airmen who lost their lives during flying missions while based at RAF Castle Archdale.

Many of the airmen’s graves, mostly members of the Canadian Royal Air Force, are in Derryvullan North and Sacred Heart Church churchyards in the town.

The standards and wreath-laying parties took up their positions. The Royal British Legion standard was carried by Ray Fleming, and Lewis Jennings was the standard bearer for group five of the Royal British Legion.

The Act of Remembrance at the Cross of Sacrifice commenced with the playing of the National Anthem by piper Jason Irvine. This was followed by the Exhortation, The Last Post, a two-minute silence and Reveille, which was sounded by bugler Luke Henderson.

Wreaths were then laid by Lieutenant Pendry, on behalf of The King, and William Irvine, Chairman of the Irvinestown branch of the Royal British Legion.

Representatives of the PSNI, First Irvinestown Boys’ Brigade, Devenish College, Irvinestown Primary School, Irvinestown Girls’ Brigade, the Royal Irish Association, the UDR Association and the Royal Air Force also laid wreaths.

The service outside concluded with prayers from the Church of Ireland minister, Rev. Canon Paul Thompson. The Remembrance Sunday service, which was held at Derryvullan North, St. Tighernach Church of Ireland, combined the parishioners of the Church of Ireland, the Methodist Church and the Presbyterian Church.

In the church, the Act of Remembrance was led by David Robinson and Jim Morton, assisted by members of the Girls’ Brigade and Boys’ Brigade. The piper was Jason Irvine, who played a lament for The Fallen.

The readings were by Lieutenant Pendry and Heather Elliott from the Royal British Legion. The preacher was Rev. Günther Andrich from the Presbyterian Church, and the intercessions were led by Ruth Morrow, Circuit Steward of the Methodist Church. The organist was Florence Barrett and the church choir sang.

Tea and refreshments were served in the church hall following the service.