Traffic came to a halt in Falmouth this morning as veterans and civic dignitaries gathered for short ceremony to mark the laying of the first poppy in the town's memorial garden.

The service at the garden in Webber Street was led by the mayor's chaplain, Father Ian Froom. The Exhortation and the Kohima Epitaph were read by Eric Dawkins, the south west representative of the St Nazaire Society, and the Last Post and Reveille were played by bugler Bill Bishop.

The first poppy was laid by the mayor, Grenville Chappel, who was followed by a steady stream of people wishing to pay their respects, including Penryn's deputy mayor, Chas Wenmoth; Lt Cdr Simon Dunkley, representing Royal Navy liaison officer, Lt Cdr Trevor Brookes; Mr Dawkins along with veterans and town councillors.

Also among them was young Ruby Adkins and her grandmother, Wendy Frost, who is Falmouth's Poppy Appeal coordinator. Wendy's son served with the army in Afghanistan and Ruby wanted to lay poppies in tribute to her uncle's friends who never made it home.

Falmouth's tributes of remembrance continue on Saturday, November 11, when two minutes silence will be observed at the St Nazaire Memorial on Prince of Wales Pier at 11am.

Then, the next day the Remembrance Sunday parade will leave The Moor at 10.40am and make its way to Kimberley Park where a service, conducted again by Fr Ian, will be held at the War Memorial. This will also include two minutes silence and wreath laying. After the service, the parade will return to The Moor where it will disburse.