ON SATURDAY I attended the Merchant Navy Remembrance Service at the Seafarers Memorial in Cardiff Bay, which this year coincided with Armistice Day itself.

This is always a moving occasion, with interfaith prayers and support from across the Maritime and Forces community, and I was proud to lay a wreath and pause to remember the sacrifice of Merchant Seamen from Penarth, Cardiff, the Vale of Glamorgan and beyond, so many of whom died at sea.

Then on Sunday, I was in Penarth for the annual Remembrance Parade and Service – which this year followed a different format from previous years, after a fantastic effort from local veterans to renew and refresh the event, and encourage the whole community to become involved.

I joined a large congregation at All Saints Church for the Service led by Rev Peter Cox. The names of 32 church parishioners who paid the ultimate sacrifice in World War I were read out by current Stanwell pupils in what was a moving tribute, highlighting the importance of teaching our young people today about the sacrifices made by their predecessors - many of whom would have been the same age when they went away to war all those years ago.

Tributes were also paid to those who have served in more recent conflicts, and who continue to serve. Because Remembrance is of course not only about honouring those who fought in the two World Wars, but also a whole new generation of brave and hard-working men and women whose efforts help keep us and people across the world safe and free – like our former peacekeepers in Bosnia, our soldiers marching across the moors of the Falklands, our Army medics treating casualties in Afghanistan or Iraq, or those braving the skies in operations over Syria and Iraq or the waters off the Horn of Africa.

Following the parade, alongside other local representatives, forces personnel, cadets and members of the public, it was an honour to lay a wreath on behalf of all constituents and to stand to pay our respects at the Garden of Remembrance.

The Ex-Servicemen’s Club then welcomed everyone for refreshments, to round off a reinvigorated Remembrance event that certainly seemed to be appreciated by the very many supportive Penarthians lining the Parade route.

Congratulations to all our local veterans and Royal British Legion members for working so hard to organise this year’s event, with the support of local businesses and other organisations including the town and Vale councils.