A HAUNTING burst of bugles reverberated around Christ Church Cathedral announcing the latest Turning the Pages ceremony.

Servicemen, families, clergy and scores of cadets packed into the cathedral on Saturday to honour local men who fell during the First and Second World Wars.

Twenty names of those who served in the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry or Queen’s Own Oxfordshire Hussars were read out at the event, which takes place every two months. A page from the Book of Remembrance was also turned.

The tradition was started by Colonel Richard Hill, a former officer with the Royal Green Jackets, and after he died he passed the responsibility to Colonel Mike Vince MBE.

Among the names read out was Private James Wearn, of the 7th Battalion Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, who died in Italy in September 1943.

Nephew John Durham, 73, from Faringdon, came to join those assembled on the day with his brother Mike Durham, 66, and sisters June Coombs and Diane Mander.

He said: “It’s fantastic. We had no idea what it was going to be like and we are so pleased we came. It was very moving.”

The young James Wearn, known as Jim to his family, had been a local milkman before being called up and was killed aged 29 in Salerno on September 27, 1943.

Letters and photographs from Private Wearn’s time in the army were collected by Mr Durham.

One letter to his mother reads: “Do hope that you had a happy Xmas, I guess your Pud was up to the usual standard... The weather here too was mild and still is.”

Another written to his sister Kath says he is “Glad to hear that John is getting on so well”.

Mr Durham said: “It was emotional going through them all; this was our mother he was writing to and the John he refers to is me. The year he died, I was born.”

Roy Bailey, of the Oxfordshire Green Jackets, has been coming to

the ceremonies for six years and said the latest had been “wonderful”. He added: “It’s very moving to remember those who died. My father and two uncles were in the First

World War and one was killed.”

Scores of blue-uniformed cadets from the Thames Valley Wing Air Training Corps, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary, also attended.

Wing Commander Chris Fisher said it was “vital” they learnt about their heritage.