Hundreds of people flocked to Teddington War Memorial yesterday (Sunday, 9 November) to witness the town's Remembrance Sunday commemorations.

The event began at 10.15am with a parade featuring various groups, including the Navy Cadets, Scouts and Girl Guides making its way to the memorial from Broad Street.

Hundreds of people flocked to Teddington War Memorial yesterday (Sunday, 9 November) to witness the town's Remembrance Sunday commemorations (Credit: James Bools)

The obligatory service followed at 10.50am with Reverend David Cloake – Vicar of St Mary with St Aban Church – opening with a laugh, a joke and a hymn.

A two-minute silence took place at 11am, before various local dignitaries and organisations were invited to lay wreaths honouring the fallen.

Following the silence, the second part of the service featured a moving speech from Reverend Cloake – before the event concluded with a rousing rendition of God Save the King.

Various groups featured in the parade (Credit: James Bools)

Amongst the discord that currently plagues the UK, Sunday's occasion – and those like it – was very much needed.

Discontent over issues including immigration, the economy, and the continuing ramifications of Brexit has repeatedly boiled over, with predictably ugly results.

And yet for a little more than an hour yesterday morning, none of it mattered.

People of all ages, faiths and political persuasions congregated together in a show of unity that has become increasingly uncommon in modern Britain.

Cloake summed up the mood in a stirring speech near to the event's conclusion.

He said: "I want to rage. I want to be angry. But this week represents a rare opportunity to do the opposite." 

He followed these remarks by urging the gathered crowd to love each other, care for each other, and treat each other with kindness, in a world that often seems all too cruel.

And he also stressed the importance of including those who served in such events where possible.

With only around 8000 Second World War veterans left, he was keen to remind spectators that "we do not have many more opportunities to commemorate such events with those who were involved."

For the young people participating in Sunday's service, it was an event they'll remember for years to come.

For everyone else, it was a welcome reminder that, despite the despair and division, the UK can still come together for a common cause when it really counts.

Last Friday, 7 November, Alec Penstone said on Good Morning Britain that winning World War Two wasn't worth it.

If yesterday's commemorations are anything to go by, he couldn't be more wrong.