THE first ever Festival of Remembrance was staged in Calne at the weekend, and the Saturday evening event was a sell-out with people standing in the aisles.

The festival at John Bentley School, was the dream of Rob Mitchell, a member of the Royal British Legion's Calne branch, who was inspired by the annual festival at the Albert Hall in London.

On Saturday the festival evening featured a piper, two choirs and a dance troop.

Mr Mitchell said he was overwhelmed by its success. "It was all absolutely wonderful. I think people were curious because it was the first one of its kind, and I could have sold twice the number of tickets.

"We had a range of age groups and I think it was accessible to everyone, probably more so than the parade itself on Sunday,"he said.

Children from St Margaret's Preparatory School had an emotional audience in tears when they recited a poem called Why Wear A Poppy?

Kelly Green, of Calne Air Training Corps, presented the guest of honour, Lady Lansdowne, with a bouquet of flowers.

Mr Mitchell led Sunday's Remembrance parade through the town. Music was provided by Calne Silver Band. The parade was followed by a service at St Mary's Church.

Mr Mitchell said he hopes it will be possible to stage next year's festival at Bowood.

He wants it to become an annual event in the town.

Two brothers Danny and Ricky Cole from the Chippenham Sea Cadets joined two buglers from the Air Training Corps, David Rason and Tom Watling, for the Last Post and the Reveille at the two Services of Remembrance at St Andrew's and St Paul's churches in Chippenham on Sunday.

More than 20 members of the Chippenham branch of the Royal British Legion attended with Second World War veterans. They were joined by representatives from the Sea Cadet Corps, the Air Training Corps, Red Cross, St John Ambulance, the Scouts and 9 Regiment Royal Logistics Corps, based at Hullavington.

The service at St Andrew's was followed by a ceremony at the war memorial when more than 40 wreaths were laid.

Corsham's Royal British Legion Club president Dr William Burrows paid tribute to the large number of young people attending the parade and service.

Members of Corsham's Joint Service Unit joined the parade, with 40 servicemen and women. They were accompanied by more than 40 veterans and members of the Guides, Brownies, St John Ambulance, Wiltshire Fire Service, and the Boys' and Girls' Brigade.

The parade marched from the Royal British Legion Club in Newlands Road to St Bartholomew's Church. At the War Memorial in Lacock Road where wreaths were laid.

RBL club treasurer John Dodshon said there had been an excellent atmosphere. "I think there were more youngsters there this year," he said.

Wootton Bassett's War Memorial was inaugurated on Saturday by North Wiltshire MP James Gray, assisted by Army cadet Jay Cunningham, who was just 15 when she inaugurated the project three years ago. Inscribed with the words Lest We Forget, it commemorates more than 70 who lost their lives on active service in two World Wars. Their names will be held on a scroll inside a special compartment within the monument.

The memorial was dedicated by the Rev John Hopkins, RBL branch chaplain. He officiated again on Sunday morning, when a large crowd gathered for the laying of wreaths. The Exhortation was read by RBL branch president George Richardson. More than 400 people joined the service at St Bartholomew's Church.

In the Remembrance Day ceremony at Malmesbury War Memorial, Royal British Legion branch chairman Derek Tilney, Mayor John Bowen, and veterans' families laid wreaths.

Wreaths were also laid by RBL vice-chairman Bill Selby to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the sinking of the battleship Repulse, near Singapore, in 1941.

Mrs Evie Denley, 99, laid a wreath in memory of her brother Willy Thornbury, who died after being injured in Flanders.

In the afternoon James Gray MP and Col James Lewis, from Hullavington Barracks, joined the congregation for a service at Malmesbury Abbey.

At Oaksey, a war memorial built in the £300,000 village hall, was dedicated by Canon Andrew Bowden.

In the former village hall, opened in the 1920s, a memorial room called The Rest was a memorial to those who died in the First World War. When this hall was demolished in 1999 it was decided to dedicate a new memorial. The dedication followed a parade.

In Crudwell, the war memorial in the Lychgate was also rededicated following a £6,300 restoration. The ceremony was conducted by the Rev Barry Raven.