SILENCE fell across the borough today as families, former soldiers and businesses stopped to pay respect to fallen soldiers, and those left behind on Armistice Day.

The union flag was lowered to half mast at a service at the town hall in Walthamstow, which took place at 11am.

For the final time this year, poppy sellers who have given hundreds of hours between them, came out to raise vital funds for the Royal British Legion, pausing only at 11am to honour Britain’s war dead.

Veterans, those who have lost friends and family to war and some who endured National Service gave up their own time to help pay for the services delivered by the RBL again this year.

In Leytonstone around a dozen volunteers have manned desks in Tesco, Whipps Cross, the Tube Station and Iceland.

This year, the group mostly made up of pensioners have been teaching children about Remembrance and hosting talks in Tesco where the children can hold medals and learn about the reason many choose to wear a poppy.

Children got to meet veteran Dennis Fenton, president of the RBL Leytonstone branch.

Les Blake who was born two weeks before the outbreak of the Second World War has returned to the borough from his new home in Cheltenham to help the effort.

Although his military career ended after he completed National Service he joined the Royal British Legion 15 years ago, in respect of the fallen and the serving.

“The Legion helps the families of all the fallen comrades, the injured soldiers and the widows,” he said.

“It really is a fantastic thing to be a part of, to know that people are being supported.

The official poppy launch runs between October 23 and November 11, although the charity collects funds all year round.

Last year, the Leytonstone branch raised £13,000 – something they hope to beat this year

Chairman of the branch Alan Calder has led an effort to bring nurseries into Tesco to meet the poppy sellers this year.

“It’s a difficult thing to explain to children but we tell them that soldiers are gone and they fought for our country.

“They like to try on the berets and they each get a goody bag.”

On Sunday, in Leytonstone, a parade took place along the High Road before a service of remembrance at the Harrow Green War Memorial, organised by the branch.

The emergency services, St John’s Ambulance, Sea and Army cadets all marched toward the service, standing silent as the Last Post rang out.

The branch has had a number of volunteers this year, including president and veteran Dennis Fenton Ray Gross, Norman Foulkes, Keith Franklyn, Christine Brooks-Bank, Sheila LeForte, Andy Milner, Paul LeForte, James White, Les Blake, David Yeung, Doreen Calder, Janet Franklyn, Pauline Daly and Janet Franklyn.