Raymond Baxter describes the scene in the Royal Albert Hall as members of the Royal British Legion gather for their annual Festival of Remembrance.
State Trumpeters herald the arrival of HM the Queen, HRH the Duke of Edinburgh, HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and other members of the Royal Family.
The Massed Bands of the Guards Division play, as representatives of the Royal British Legion, Royal Navy, Army, Association of Dunkirk Little Ships, Battle of Britain Pilots Association and the Chelsea
Pensioners all proudly muster with their Standards.
The service displays include the Royal Marine Band, mast manning from HMS Sultan, the Band of the Second King Edward VII 's Gurkha Rifles, the Airborne Division, the Central Band of the RAF and the RAF Halton gymnastic display team. Community singing is led by the RAF Brize Norton Singers.
The Service of Remembrance is led by the Rt Rev Michael Mann, KCVO, assisted by the Rt Rev Monsignor Gerard Lavender, VG, and the Rev David Staple, MA, BD. The festival ends with a minute's silence as thousands of poppy petals fall in memory of lives lost in combat over the years. Narrator is Richard Baker, OBE, RD. Television presentation Neil Eccles
Appeal: viewers who would like more information about the work of the Royal British Legion and the annual Poppy Appeal, are invited to telephone 0[number removed], free of charge.