ACROSS Hampshire generations stood side by side to remember the fallen yesterday.

All corners of the county paused for Remembrance Day during a two minutes silence marking the 97th anniversary of the end of the First World War.

Cranes at Southampton Container Port stopped and bus operators across the county including First, BlueStar, UniLink and Stagecoach advised their drivers to pull over at 11am yesterday to join the country in remembrance.

A number of services took place to pay homage to the thousands of men and women who lost their lives fighting for their country.

They included annual gatherings at cenotaphs across the county including one in Southampton city centre which was this week given Grade I listed status, protecting it for future years.

Rowner Junior School presented poppy wreaths to veterans, schoolchildren in Cheriton took part in a service at St Michael’s Church and gatherings were held at Winchester Guildhall, Eastleigh War Memorial and Bishopstoke War Memorial.

And 86 grandparents of Upper Shirley High School pupils went back to school for a special Armistice Day service.

The service opened with a performance of the Last Post by Year 11 student Matty Harmen, followed by the two minutes silence.

Grandparents were then entertained by performances by the school choir as well as readings of prominent wartime poems before their grandchildren gave them each a tailored tour of their classrooms. It is the second year the school had held the special event which aims to encourage grandparents’ involvement with their grandchildren’s education and inspire conversation about their family’s involvement in the war. Headteacher Stuart Woods said: “We’re proud to be able to mark this occasion on such a large scale. We have built on the success of last year. Word is getting round that it’s a really respectful and important event to come to.

“There is something different with the relationship the children have with their grandparents to that of their parents. There is definitely a connection with the relationship we have with our grandparents and our memories of the war.”

The school have also marked Remembrance Day with a giant four-foot poppy which has been placed on their building next to their logo.

Poppies have also sprouted up in other places across Hampshire including outside Southampton Central Station where large paper poppies have been put on display.

The Totton and Eling branch of the Royal British Legion held an Armistice Day service at the memorial in Totton which was attended by branch members, veterans and members of the public.

Wreahs were laid by pupils from Eling Infant School, Lydlynch Infant School, Oakfield Primary School and Testwood Sports College, while six white doves were released by college students as a sign of peace.

Ceramic poppies produced by students from the college are being displayed in the town and one was presented to the Legion by headteacher Jenny Pitman.