Pictures: Residents come together to mark Armed Forces Day across south Essex

CROWDS across south Essex came to pay their respects for this year’s Armed Forces Day.

Saturday marked the annual event with residents and veterans coming to honour our heroes in Basildon, Southend and Canvey.

Southend marked the day with a colourful parade of serving Armed Forces personnel, veterans and cadets.

Powerful - The service in Victoria Circus included a gun salute (Image: Steve Brading)

The parade made its way from the railway bridge to Victoria Circus, where there was a service for the Armed Forces present with mayor Ron Woodley, the council and other dignitaries.

Flags - Members of the armed forces paying respects (Image: Steve Brading)

There was also a short concert from the Southend Band at the end of the service.

Music - Nicolas Quarrell on the bugle (Image: Steve Brading)

On the day, Mr Woodley said: “It was a good tribute, everybody behaved and a lot of members of the public turned up and it is something that we should be proud.

„ Honoured - A flag-bearer for Armed Forces Day in Canvey (Image: Rebecca Harris)

“All of it was brilliant, I gave a reading and there was a march up the centre.

Crowd - Veterans and residents came to show their respect (Image: Rebecca Harris)

“They paraded really well and it all mixed well, extremely well organised and a great honour to the military and its young people as well.”

Busy - Crowds watch on for Basildon’s Armed Forces Day event (Image: Basildon Council)

In Basildon, a parade made up of hundreds of serving personnel, service families, veterans and cadets, marched from Toys R Us in Basildon town centre towards St Martin’s Square.

Group - Marching with flags through Basildon (Image: Basildon Council)

Earlier in the week Basildon mayor Allan Davies raised a flag at the Basildon Centre to mark the start of a week of celebrations.

In Castle Point, there was a procession on Canvey held, beginning at the Castle View School car park and ending at the Paddocks Community Centre.

More pictures from Armed Forces Day in south Essex can be found on pages 22 and 23.