A WEEKEND of remembrance services honouring Britain's armed forces began this morning with a ceremony at Woodford War Memorial.

Dozens of residents, police, army personnel and cadets joined dignitaries including MPs Iain Duncan Smith and Lee Scott to the event, held outside St Mary's Church in South Woodford High Road, to lay wreaths and pay tribute to those past and present who have died fighting for the British army.

This morning's ceremony had a particular resonance for 87-year-old World War Two veteran Joe Hollingsworth, who spoke movingly of his time battling through Europe in the months following D-Day in June 1944.

Mr Hollingsworth, of Buckingham Road in South Woodford, said: “There was one occasion when we arrived in a French town just after a heavy battle we had with the yanks against the Germans.

“I've never seen such terrible destruction. There were so many soldiers dead, hundreds of them everywhere.

"I will never forget it.”

The grandfather-of-three, who wore his Defence and General Service medals at today's ceremony, added: “I hope we never have another war like it.”

The service, which saw several religious readings and music from the Redbridge Music Service Brass Band, marked the first remembrance event at St Mary's for its new rector, Rev Ian Tarrant.

He said: “I was very pleased to see how many people came out here today.

“It is very important to remember those who have died in these wars and it's important to say it shouldn't happen again.”

Chingford and Woodford Green MP Iain Duncan Smith said: “I think people in the community generally need to pause and realise that they owe their lives to these men and women.

"Without them we could be living in a land ruled by someone else or where terrorism is rife."

Mr Duncan Smith, who served in the army in the 1970s and early 1980s, poured scorn on arguments that the pledge of “never again” and the lessons of history have been ignored with recent wars like those in Iraq and Afghanistan.

He said: “We have to stand up to tyranny otherwise tyranny will overcome us.”

Tomorrow sees another service of remembrance at the Ilford War Memorial in Eastern Avenue, Newbury Park, at 10.30am, along with a ceremony at Wanstead War Memorial, in the High Street, at 11.50am.