Army veteran Bill pays his respects on Remembrance Day

A TYNESIDE army veteran was among those paying their respects at a Remembrance Day service in Peterlee.

74-year-old former corporal Bill Lyons, who served nine years in the Durham Light Infantry, attended the service at St Cuthbert’s Church, on Manor Way.

He was joined by fellow residents from Bannatyne Lodge Care Home, also on Manor Way, before they all watched a wreath laying ceremony at the town’s war memorial.

Bill, originally from Newcastle, wanted to pay his respects to those he served with on Remembrance Day.

Lynn Chapman, home manager at Bannatyne Lodge Care Home in Peterlee, said: “Bill is always keen to take part in any celebrations and services remembering those who served in the armed forces.

“On Armed Forces Day earlier this year, we managed to arrange for two serving soldiers to come and visit army veteran Bill at the home, as he wasn’t able to attend the Peterlee parade.

“He doesn’t talk much but that day he talked more than he had in months.”

As well as attending the Remembrance Day service, the care home also arranged for puppeteer Clare Cuppers to visit and present a show featuring songs from the wars.

Clare, who specialises in delivering therapeutic puppet shows for those living with dementia, led renditions of It’s a Long Way to Tipperary, We’ll Meet Again and White Cliffs of Dover.

Lynn added: “All of our residents wanted to mark Remembrance Day this year, being the centenary of the end of the First World War.

“Alongside the service, we wanted to do something a bit different, and Clare has done some fantastic shows for the residents in the past.

“Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the performance and singing along to the wartime songs. They’re already looking forward to her next visit.”