You have to be at least in your 70s to have served in the Second World War and more than 60 to have experienced National Service.

Only a few are left who took part in the First World War and soon there will be none.

The image of Remembrance Day, and of the Royal British Legion which runs the Poppy Appeal, is slowly changing.

No longer are most people involved the veterans of those two terrible conflicts. Many of them are those who have experienced more recent conflicts, from Korea to the Gulf War.

Typical of the modern members is Antony Torr, from Brighton, who suffered from combat stress after serving in the Falklands campaign 20 years ago.

The legion has helped him to keep going.

It would be easy for many people not to bother with Remembrance ceremonies now world wars are becoming a distant memory.

But there is always a war going on somewhere in the world and there is an increasing possibility that the UK will be involved in a conflict with Iraq next year.

Each November, we need to remember those who died in wars and those who suffered, such as Antony Torr.

Most of all, we need to learn lessons from all those conflicts in the hope of avoiding future wars.