Remembrance Day 2022: Brighton and Hove pay respects to fallen troops

People stood at the Old Steine Gardens in front of the War Memorial in Brighton to pay their respects to fallen troops.

Brighton and Hove City Mayor Lizzie Deane laid a wreath, as did a representative from the Royal Sussex Regiment.

Labour Councillor Amanda Grimshaw gave a short speech after the wreaths were laid.

She said: “It is a great honour to pay resects to the people of Brighton who gave their lives for us.

“These soldiers gave their all for us, 62 men died from our city on that day [the Battle of Boar's Head], so every neighbourhood will have felt the impacts of it.

“We remember everybody who gave their lives today, but especially those who fought in the Royal Sussex Regiment.”

Fireman held their helmets as wreaths were laid (Image: The Argus)

Firemen from East Sussex Fire and Rescue took off their helmets and stood by the obelisk to pay their respects.

Roger Amerena wearing his father's tie and medals (Image: The Argus)

Roger Amerena, chairman of the Brighton and Hove Heritage Commission, attended the service.

He said: “I’m paying my respects to my father who served in the Second World War.”

Mr Amerena will be laying a wreath at the Remembrance service at Old Steine Gardens on Sunday.

Hove War Memorial, where wreaths were laid (Image: The Argus)

In Hove, a small crowd gathered at the war memorial in Grand Avenue to remember those who had been lost in the First and Second World Wars.

The group fell silent at 11am as the country stood still to remember those lost in the wars, but also to honour others from wars across the world.

While many who took part in the service had family ties to those who served, they also stressed the importance of remembering those lost in more recent wars such as in Ukraine.

Tom Mollett and George Oldfield, who both live in Grand Avenue, came to remember their fathers who served in the Second World War.

Mr Mollett said: “I think it’s essential that people remember those who were involved and those who died for their country.

“We also ought to think of those other wars that are happening at the moment. There will be some Britons fighting in Ukraine as well.

Mr Oldfield added: “We should remember all the other wars like the Korean war and the Falklands War too. One of our neighbours is Jewish too and I think it's also important to remember the Holocaust.”

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As police and fire crews closed off the road for the two-minute silence, dignitaries filed up to the war memorial to leave poppy wreaths and pay their respects.

Bystanders then took their opportunity to stand next to the memorial and stop to reflect on those who have lost their lives in war.

Carmen Appich, councillor for Westbourne, said: "It's really important to remember the war. I'm from Germany and my grandfather was swept up in the patriotism and volunteered to fight for the Kaiser in the First World War.

“When I read his memoirs I found that he realised the error of his ways. I find it quite moving because it was the working people who lost the most. We should be talking to each other rather than shedding blood. It’s a really sad situation.”