Armistice Day was marked across Croydon as people from all generations paid their respects to fallen servicemen and women.
The Royal British Legion led a wreath-laying ceremony at the Cenotaph in Katherine Street.
Children, veterans, serving soldiers and politicians were among those who gathered to remember the war dead.
At Archbishop Tenison’s School small crosses were planted to remember the 84 former pupils who died in the two world wars.
As the fallen soldiers names were read out the students went out one by one and placed 58 crosses into the ground for those who were killed in World War One and 26 killed in World War Two.
Inspired by the display at the Tower of London, Royal Russell School staff and children each made a poppy and planted it in the school’s memorial garden.
The planting took place to remember the 69 pupils from the school who died in battle during World War One.
In all, 1,500 poppies were planted, creating a focal point to remember all those men and women who have lost their lives in all wars.
Also taking their inspiration from the Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red display at the Tower Of London were Woodcote High School pupils.
Art students created 60 of their own ceramic poppies, one for each resident of the Woodcote area who was killed in World War One.
The poppies were laid during today’s remembrance ceremony and are now on display in the school field.
Starting at 8.40am this morning, girls at Croydon High tied handmade poppies to the gates of their school in Old Farleigh Road.
By 11am when it was time for two minute’s silence the gates were covered with poppies.
And yesterday the school’s head of history Colin Divall held an assembly and taught about the meaning behind the ceramic poppies at the Tower of London.
He also taught about the first men heading off to East Croydon station to travel to France in 1914.
Drinkers from the Two Brewers pub paid their respects at the nearby Selhurst War Memorial, in what they believe to be the first act of remembrance there since the Holy Trinity Church closed in 1980.
Landlord John Kitchenside read a tribute before placing a wreath at the memorial and they then observed the two minute silence on Sunday.
Children took time to reflect on the meaning of remembrance when they created their own wreaths at Croydon Museum.
With help from their mums and dads and grandparents they cut out red card poppies and stuck them on to card.
After Saturday’s event they took their creations home to display on Remembrance Sunday and for today’s Armistice Day commemorations.
Historian Ian Castle is giving a talk about the Zeppelin raids during World War One, including the one on Croydon in October 1915.
The talk takes place at 6.15pm next Wednesday, November 19, at the East Croydon United Reformed Church Halls in Addiscombe Grov, Croydon.
Call 07753 834400 to reserve a place.
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