THE blood red of the poppy will mingle with vivid autumn colours in ceremonies all over Ludlow and south Shropshire, Tenbury, and the Teme Valley as people gather on Sunday to remember those that gave their lives fighting for their country.

In line with custom there will be a ceremony on Saturday morning in the churchyard of St Leonard’s in Ludlow that has a number of war graves.

The church is no longer a place of worship, but volunteers work throughout the year to keep the graves and the churchyard tidy.

Sunday morning will see civic ceremonies in both Ludlow and Tenbury town centres when members of the two town councils will join service and uniformed groups for a parade through the towns before services of remembrance at St Laurence Church in Ludlow and at St Mary’s in Tenbury.

In Ludlow poppies will be placed around the war memorial near the names of those who gave their lives in the two world wars and the Korean War. These names were put there thanks to an initiative led by Margaret Edwards and Jean Parker from Poyners.

Ceremonies will take place in Bishops Castle, Craven Arms, Cleobury Mortimer and Church Stretton with details available from the local churches.

There will also be services of remembrance in many villages and hamlets throughout the area with children taking part paying their respects.