At 11 o’clock the congregation at Forbury Gardens, which spilled out onto neighbouring roads, fell silent, to remember those that gave their lives in the First and Second World Wars and conflicts since.
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The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month was originally known as Armistice Day however after World War II, the day became Remembrance Day to commemorate all those who have died in war.
The National Memorial Arboretum also marked Armistice Day with an outdoor Service of Remembrance at the Armed Forces Memorial, which will now close for up to one year for refurbishment work.
For many years, the main activity took place on the nearest Sunday to November 11, but in the 1990s the idea of a two-minute silence on the day itself was revived.
The town’s deputy mayor Frank Daymond, who attended with his wife, deputy mayoress, Heather, said: “It went very well”.
Speaking before the silence, Helen Hill from the Royal British Legion said it was a “rare moment for the nation to stand together and reflect upon the human cost of conflict”.
The silence was observed at the Royal Courts of Justice in London – which houses the High Court and Court of Appeal.
At the Erskine Home in Bishopton, Renfrewshire, veterans will be joined by families, staff and friends for a memorial service where they will lay wreaths to remember fallen comrades.
It is that freedom for which so many gave their lives during two world wars.
The medals were presented by the French Ambassador Sylvie Bermann in a ceremony at her residence in Kensington. “Their courage and determination in the face of fierce opposition earned them enduring respect and affection”, Mr Robert said.
British military personnel joined troops from Spain, Portugal and the United States for an Armistice Day ceremony at a training site in Iraq.
A number of Armistice Day ceremonies were held at War Memorials, schools and community centers across the country.
Few, if any, people who experienced the unspeakable battles of the Great War remain with us today.
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RBL research found 40 per cent of Britons are not expected to observe the two minute’s silence.
