THE people of Oxfordshire were out in force yesterday to honour our war dead on Remembrance Day.

But it is not only adults who mark the occasion – young people play their part, as these pictures from the Oxford Mail archives show.

Picture 1 was taken at Witney in 1994 as crowds crammed the pavements to watch Scouts and Cubs take part in the procession through the town.

Oxford Mail:

Didcot Girl Guides

Picture 2 shows Girl Guides at Didcot taking part in the march past in 1987. The town mayor, Captain John Flood, took the salute after a united Remembrance Day service outside the Civic Hall.

Memory Lane this week

Eight-year-old Julia McHarg, in Picture 3, places a posy of flowers on the war memorial at Eynsham on behalf of the Baptist Church Fellowship Group in 1979.

Oxford Mail:

Julia McHarg

She was among representatives of village groups which laid tributes after a parade through the streets and a service at St Leonard’s Church.

Jenny Owen, a 16-year-old Abingdon schoolgirl, played the Last Post and Reveille at Sutton Courtenay in 1967.

Oxford Mail:

Jenny Owen

Jenny, seen in Picture 4, a sixth-former at John Mason School, played the cornet with other members of Abingdon Borough Band at the village Remembrance Day service in 1966. The following year, she volunteered to play solo.

Ernie Lock, 80, had been the Royal British Legion standard bearer at Thame for 25 years, and in 1971, he was handing over the honour to his grandson, Ken Davy.

Oxford Mail:

Ken Davy and grandfather Ernie Lock

Mr Lock, who served in both world wars, carried the standard to the parish church, then handed it to his grandson for the return march. They are seen in Picture 5.

Mr Lock, who was emigrating to Australia, had been awarded the Legion Gold Medal for his services.

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