“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them.”

The words of Laurence Binyon’s For The Fallen poignantly echoed around Wanstead High Street, as residents young and old commemorated members of the armed forces lost in conflict.

At 12.30pm yesterday, on Remembrance Sunday, outside the Wanstead War Memorial, around 500 people fell silent to remember the men and women who have died serving their country.

The service was taken by Rector of Wanstead Rev Dr Jack Dunn, with a veteran reading out Mr Binyon’s poem.

Deputy Redbridge Mayor Cllr Zulfiqar Hussain, and Wanstead councillors, from both Labour and the Conservatives, Cllr Sheila Bain and Cllr Sue Nolan laid wreaths at the base of the memorial.

More than 100 young Scouts, Beavers and Brownies placed their own home-made poppy displays around the statue.

The trumpeter from the Salvation Army band played The Last Post, as the congregation reflected on the sacrifice of the fallen.

Tory group leader and Wanstead resident Cllr Paul Canal told the Recorder afterwards: “I’m humbled and moved by the number of people attending today.

“Wanstead residents who have come to commemorate those who gave their lives in defence of freedom.

“We remember those who died in the First and Second World Wars and more recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

Cllr Canal paid tribute to Royal Marine Tom Curry “Wanstead born and bred”, who died in Afghanistan in 2007 just weeks after proposing to his girlfriend.

Tom’s father Martin attended yesterday, and commented that “there was a very good turnout”.

Cllr Canal continued: “I was most moved by the amount of young people, who left poppies at the memorial.

“It’s absolutely vital that remembrance is passed down between generations.”