STAFF?at Hampshire County Council gathered at the war memorial next to Winchester’s Great Hall last Friday to pay their respects to servicemen and women who lost their lives at war.

Keith Chapman, the chairman of Hampshire County Council, led the act of remembrance as staff and councillors, including Alton councillor Andrew Joy, the authority’s Armed Forces champion and executive member for communities, partnerships and external affairs, stood shoulder to shoulder to observe the two-minute silence on Armistice Day.

Mr Chapman urged those attending to remember and commemorate all the servicemen and women who lost their lives in war, their bereaved families and friends, as well as wounded servicemen and women who returned with life-changing injuries.

He also saluted members of the Armed Forces who, he said, “continued to place themselves in harm’s way to protect others”.

A wreath was laid at the ‘To Honour a Promise’ memorial.

There were poignant readings by reservists and former service members who were county council staff.

Mr Chapman added: “It is right to commemorate the sacrifices that were made by so many service people, including county council staff. In so doing, we should also consider the responsibility we have to remember not only those whose sacrifices were made on our behalf, but also their families whose lives were, and still are, so badly affected either by the loss of loved ones or the disabilities they suffered.”

There are more than 85,000 military personnel, veterans, reservists and Ministry of Defence civilian employees across Hampshire.

The authority employs a number of former service personnel and reservists from the Royal Navy, the Army and Royal Air Force, with reservists entitled to two weeks’ additional paid leave for training and other duties.

Mr Joy said: “We are committed to supporting our Armed Forces community, including regulars, reservists, veterans and their families. Through the Military Covenant, which Hampshire was one of the first to sign, around £2m in grants has been secured to date for more than 50 projects across the county which benefit service families and the wider community.

“We have always been proud of our long association with the armed services and we are proud to be able to honour the commitment and sacrifices they make for the security and well-being of our country.”