The sun shone down on the Hampstead War Memorial as people marked Armistice Day with a two minute silence.
Veterans joined religious leaders, children and the public at the Interfaith Act of Remembrance at the Whitestone Pond War Memorial in North End Way, this morning to remember the dead, wounded and current servicemen.
A large crowd listened as Rev Canon Paul Conrad and Cantor Jason Green led the service which saw readings from the Gospel, two readings from the Book of Psalms, in English and in Hebrew, and a reading of the Memorial Prayer from the prayer book issued to Jewish servicemen and women in the war.
The Opening and The Quraysh for the Quran were also recited.
Traffic was brought to a standstill at 11am as Manu Raffray, 15, a pupil at William Ellis School, played the Last Post and the Reveille on his trumpet.
Rev Paul, said: “We are sad and solemn as we remember all who have lost lives in wars, but not without hope as we commit ourselves to the ways of peace.” He added: “Never before has this time of remembrance been more important, marked by moments like this where we remember the continuous wars and violence and the countless number of people who have died.”
Members of the community, including the mayor of Camden Cllr Richard Cotton, and Susan Garden, Baroness Garden of Frognal, and members of the police force, lay down wreaths.
Mr Green told the Ham and High after the service: “It was incredibly moving, particularly seeing the children, the next generation, participate in such an important opportunity to remember those who gave their lives.”
Seven years ago the crumbling memorial was restored with the help of two Royal Army veterans, Alexander Rudelhoff, 82, and Brian Keys, 80, who donated £24,000 after an appeal from Linda Chung, organiser of the event.
Mr Rudelhoff said: “It’s the most wonderful thing we did. Encouraging the children to come aswell allows them to get to know about it, which in the past, it was a part of history they were not taught a thing about.”
Ms Chung added: “It’s wonderful to see people understand the meaning of this service and to see all the community services coming in support. An enormous thank you to them all.”
Services are taking place across Camden, Haringey and Barnet on Sunday for those who wish to pay their respects.
In Camden there will be a 10am Service of remembrance at St Pancras Church on Euston Road, followed by the laying of wreaths at the London and North Western Railway Company War Memorial (in front of Euston Station) at 10.55.
Cllr Richard Cotton, and Cllr Georgia Gould will be attending the service.
Elsewhere in Camden, there will be a laying of wreaths at the Prisoner of War WWII Memorial, in Mornington Crescent at 11am.
There will also be a service at Hampstead Cemetery, Fortune Green followed by the laying of a wreath at Hampstead War Memorial, and then the Eversholt Street Memorial.
There will also be a 10.30am service at the Golders Green War Memorial, at Golders Green Station.
In Haringey local schoolchildren and residents will gather at the Wood Green War Memorial at 10.45am, opposite Haringey Civic Centre, High Road, Wood Green.
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