Armistice Day 2015: The West Midlands remembers

Veterans were joined by schoolchildren and residents to mark the solemn tribute at various locations yesterday.

More than 200 people gathered in Dudley town centre for its civic service outside Dudley Council House off Priory Street near the clock tower.

The 89-year-old, who has started using a wheelchair due to ill health, has been attending services for more than 20 years.

Mr Willetts joined more than 200 people at Dudley's Civic Armistice Day ceremony yesterday in the town centre.

Dignitaries stood with school pupils, council staff and residents during the service held at the memorial by the clock tower at the town's civic buildings. Mr Willetts, who lives in Dudley, served in the Worcester and Sherwood Forester Regiment between 1946 and 1948, including a tour of India.

He represented the regiment during the service where wreaths were laid and a two minute's silence was observed.

The names of fallen soldiers from Dudley in the Great War are inscribed on walls in the memorial lobby at the base of the clock tower.

Mr Willetts read out the Ode of Remembrance on the day. He said: "I'm very honoured to be part of it every year. We must remember. It is important and I'm happy that so many people came along.

"I think that current conflicts have brought it home to people more in recent years.

"I will also continue to come along for as many years as I can."

The Revd Andrew Wickens, from St Thomas and St Luke's Church, known as Top Church, in Dudley, led the service.

He was joined by pupils from Dudley's Castle High School and The Wordsley School who took roles in the commemoration.

Mayor of Dudley, Councillor Steve Waltho, also attended the event and said it was moving service to witness.

"It was nice to see new generation taking part in Remembrance and I was taken aback by the numbers attending," he said.

Hundreds of people turned out to mark the occasion in Oldbury at the town's cenotaph.

Mayor of Sandwell, Councillor Barbara Price and council leader Darren Cooper, joined masses gathered as members of the Royal British Legion laid wreaths.

There was also a large turn out by the people of Wolverhampton for the city's Armistice Day service at the cenotaph in St Peter's Square.

Organised by the Royal British Legion's City of Wolverhampton Central Branch, the service featured the Last Post and a two minute silence as the city remembered those who have fought and died in conflicts.

Meanwhile, The Princess Royal attended Armistice Day commemorations at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, near Lichfield.

The central Armed Forces memorial will close from tomorrow for a year while it is refurbished.

The Princess Royal, wearing three poppies on the shoulder of her overcoat, read a passage from the Bible during the service.

Following the service, attended by around 500 people, Princess Anne was shown some of the 16,000 names carved into the Portland stone memorial, commemorating service personnel killed in the line of duty since 1948.

Across the West Midlands people paid their respects: