SILENCE descended on streets, schools, parks and town halls across the county yesterday morning as Oxfordshire remembered those who gave their lives in conflict.

Services were held across the county as people paid their respects on Armistice Day to mark the sacrifice of ancestors, loved ones and others.

The two-minute silence at 11am marks the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month – the time in 1918 when the First World War came to an end.

A commemorative service was held at Oxford Town Hall led by the Lord Mayor Rae Humberstone and City Rector, The Very Rev Bob Wilkes.

Mr Humberstone said: “It’s important that we never forget the men and women of Oxford who fought during the First and Second World War and subsequent conflicts.

“It’s equally important to remember the innocent civilians whose lives were taken as a result of the conflicts. They will never be forgotten.”

The Oxford City Council Chamber Choir sang two choral pieces, followed by a remembrance prayer read by Mr Wilkes.

He said: “It’s vital that we never forget the precious lives lost during conflicts and that we honour the incredible people who risked their lives and continue to risk their lives for our country.”

Students at City of Oxford College held their own remembrance service complete with singing, music and poems.

Student Union president Phoebe Kingsbury-Lawry, 17, read the war poem Flanders Field by John McCrae.

The Rev Mike Penny, from Churches Together in Reading, who led the service, said: “The students were wonderful and very respectful – a couple of them had tears in their eyes. They bowed their heads during the silence.

He added: “War does terrible things to good people and war makes good people do terrible things.”

Twenty-five students from The Cooper School in Bicester were joined by assistant headteacher Robert Hiscock and members of the Bicester branch of the Royal British Legion at St Laurence’s Church, Caversfield.

In May the school adopted the Act of Remembrance, which commits to releasing 25 pupils from lessons each year for a Remembrance Day service.

Brian Bailey, project manager and committee member of RBL Bicester and District, said: “It was nice to see the pupils who will hopefully take up the mantel in future years.”

Staff and students at Our Lady’s Abingdon School remembered the Fallen at St Edmund’s Church, laying a wreath at the altar made by Year 10 textile students.

About 200 people turned out to honour those who lost their lives in war at a ceremony held in People’s Park, organised by the Banbury branch of the Royal British Legion.

Among those paying their respects were nine pupils from St John’s Priory School, who were invited to lay a wreath as part of the service.

One of those pupils was six-year-old Eliza-Jayne Biggadike, who also celebrated her birthday yesterday. She was born at 11am on November 11, 2009, at the Horton Hospital in Banbury.

The service was also a big day for her family, as her father is a member of the 33rd Squadron at RAF Benson, and her maternal grandfather is German.

Yesterday morning pupils from Glory Farm School, Bicester, helped prepare for a poppy drop which was due to take place as part of a remembrance service at St Edburg’s Church, Bicester.