The Mayor and MP for St Albans laid down wreaths to honour veterans and their sacrifices.

Mayor Janet Smith visited the War Memorial today (November 11) to lay down a wreath and a hold a two-minute silence to commemorate soldiers who died in battle.

MP Daisy Cooper also attended to lay a wreath at the memorial and to be present for a reading of a verse from the poem, For the Fallen.

Mrs Cooper said: "It was huge honour to lay a wreath at the St Albans war memorial today, on Armistice Day.

"It was very poignant to hear this beautiful verse from the poem by Robert Laurence Binyon, read by a local veteran.

"Just last week, my grandad read this same verse down the phone to his vicar so it could be recorded and played in his absence on Remembrance Sunday."

St Albans & Harpenden Review:

The Mayor laying down the wreath. Credit: St Albans Council

People in the district were also invited to watch on an online service on Remembrance Sunday (November 8) which was held in the council chamber.

This was due to coronavirus restrictions which meant the usual annual parade couldn't be organised. Tommy silhouettes have also been placed at the war memorial and at the west door of the Cathedral.

The Mayor said: "Remembrance Sunday and Remembrance Day are among the most moving and important occasions in the district and the council plays a major role in its organisation.

"I was deeply saddened by the fact that the annual parade could not be held this year because of the pandemic.

"However, I was impressed that so many people still took the time to pay their respects and remember the brave servicemen and women who lost their lives or were injured while serving in the armed forces.

"This is our way of recognising the debt we owe to the men and women who sacrificed their lives in the defence of this country. We must always remember them."