KEIGHLEY’S Remembrance parade last Sunday was the finest for many years, says the town’s mayor.

Councillor Graham Mitchell praised all those who took part, including the hundreds of people who crammed into the town hall square.

He said: “I was very pleased with the whole event. The parade went really well and was quite emotional.

“It went ahead with precision, dignity and respect. The mood was totally respectful. We stood for a whole 10 minutes in total silence.

“The attendance has been growing steadily over the past few years. I think everyone knows someone who has been affected by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

Tommy Thompson, the parade marshal and organiser Keighley’s Poppy Appeal, was very pleased with Sunday’s event.

He said: “It was a good-sized parade and there was a big turn-out in the square to support the parade.”

Mr Thompson was particularly pleased with the number of schoolchildren, staff and parents who joined the parade.

The parade began with the procession along North Street of serving soldiers, Royal British Legion veterans, cadets and uniformed groups.

Following a service at Keighley Shared Church the parade returned along North Street to the square, to gather in silence as they waited for 11am and the official two-minutes’ silence.

People of all ages stood shoulder to shoulder in tribute to those who had given their lives in conflict. Wreaths were placed on the war memorial by many local individuals and groups.

This year's commemorations took on added poignancy as those present reflected on the centenary of the start of the First World War.

The town hall square this year featured two new activities, including a performance of remembrance music played by Haworth Band for the assembled crowd before the parade arrived.

As part of the official ceremony, Keighley’s Royal Marine, sea, air and army cadets read out the names of men who had died in the first year of the First World War.

The 50 names were collected through research by amateur historians as part of Keighley’s Men of Worth Project.

Men of Worth spokesman Ian Walkden described the cadets who read out the names as a “credit” to their organisations.

He said the intention was to continue reading names each year until at least 1918, representing all the local men who died 100 years in the past.

He said: “When we get to 1915 the Commonwealth War Graves already have 94 names of people from Keighley.”