At 11am last Sunday, the country came to a standstill.

Our busy world, our busy lives stopped as together we remembered those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

This year was even more poignant as it marked the centenary of Armistice Day, 100 years since the guns fell silent.

Few of us can imagine what horrors experienced by soldiers in the First World War.

The photographs, the poems and the personal accounts are incredibly harrowing but even they cannot truly relate the terrible suffering.

As the country fell silent on Sunday, we were able to think of those who died, those who were injured and those left with enduring mental and physical scars.

We could reflect on the widows, on the fatherless children, the bereaved parents.

War claims too high a price. But sadly, across the globe, there is still war and still suffering.

The world must unite to condemn all acts of war and must do more to bring those responsible to task.

We are blessed in this country that war is something we only read about or watch on TV.

It is no longer part of every day life. We owe a debt of gratitude to those who fought for our freedom in all wars especially those who paid with their lives.

And as time goes by and busy lives go on, we must promise to never forget.

The high turn-out in Halstead and elsewhere in our area showed we will honour this promise.