Holywell High street was filled with residents for Remembrance Sunday.

Holywell's Centenary commemoration service began on Sunday afternoon with an announcement from the Town Crier, Chris Baglin, followed by music from Holywell Town Band.

Pupils of the town's schools read out poems from North Walian poet Hedd Wyn and John McCrae, before Holywell Air Cadets recited Wilfred Owen's famous war poetry, town mayor Cllr Rosetta Dolphin recited 'Perhaps' by Vera Brittain and David Roberts, Flint and Holywell Rotary Club president recited 'My Boy Jack' by Rudyard Kipling.

Flint Ladies Choir also performed famous war songs.

Rev. Aidan Coleman led the Remembrance service and later joined Cllr Dolphin at Greenfield Dock, where the commemorative beacon was lit while both read names of the town and area's fallen soldiers.

Cllr Dolphin said: "It was absolutely fantastic, self-supported throughout and luckily the weather was good. We had a Remembrance march up to Panton Place where volunteers gave out hot soup and rolls. The Drill House, the Air Cadet's building, was open for people after.

"There were events in Tower Gardens from 1.15-3pm where all the schools got involved and read stories of the men that died. They researched them and who their parents were and what jobs they did in the war.

"In the evening we lit the beacon. My son read a poem and a couple of boy scouts read a poem in Welsh and English. It was a lovely event."

Change in Culture Projects (CIC) also had a large part in the World War One centenary in Holywell this weekend.

Local community champions, Glynn and Roberta Owen, gave a poignant reading at the event to bi-lingually commemorate all the soldiers who served and fell from across the West Flintshire area.  Roberta said: “It was an honour to be asked to read at the event, it was important for the reading to be commemorated by Welsh speakers. ”

Among many special moments from the event, Mr Allen Hughes, from the Carmel and Holywell Woodcraft Association, presented a World War One commemorative plaque they had beautifully crafted for the Holywell and District Royal British Legion; Mr Alan Cathery, chair of the local Legion branch and project board member, humbly accepted the plaque.

Mr Peter Curtis, project board member, and master of ceremony on the day said: “It was important that locally we remembered those who gave their todays for our tomorrows.  Our schools, our communities and local businesses came together to create a special event to respect our brave soldiers and women during world war one.  We will remember them.”

A special Heritage Lottery Fund project is also ongoing in Holywell and Flint, which focuses on the contribution of West Flintshire communities during the First World War by creating a permanent digital archive website to preserve the war experience for future generations.

Students enjoyed their visit to Birkenhead Park where poet Hedd Wyn was posthumously awarded the 1917 Eisteddfod Bardic Chair, and will visit the Wilfred Owen museum.

The project is now asking parents to help by coming forward with stories about relatives of World War One soldiers who may still be alive in the area.

They are seeking any World War One memorabilia including images, diaries, letters and medals to aid pupils with their research.

To get in touch about the project, email hello@changeinculture.com or call 07525039194.

n Flint honour fallen soldiers - see page 11