THE widow of a soldier killed in Afghanistan was among those paying their respects to the fallen in Merstham.
About 50 people gathered for a brief service and the two minutes' silence at the High Street war memorial in Sunday's bright sunshine.
Groups, including the Women's Institute, Scouts and members of the Royal British Legion, laid wreaths, and another was left in memory of Sgt Robert Loughran-Dickson, who was killed during a gun battle in Helmand Province in November 2009, aged 33.
His widow, Jennifer, 47, moved to Redhill shortly after his death.
After laying the wreath, she said: "Remembrance is very important because it can bring the old guys from the Second World War, their wives and children, together with the younger people who have lost husbands, brothers, sons. It makes you feel very humble. It brings it home to you what they have all had to go through.
"Laying a wreath is good and bad. It feels like you are laying them to rest all over again, but it is important it is done. We need to honour and respect them because they made the ultimate sacrifice for this country."
Drams of whisky were handed round following the wreath-laying ceremony, a tradition started 15 years ago, on a bitter Remembrance Sunday, by Ellen Hickman.
Her husband Ted, who chairs the Merstham Royal British Legion branch, said: "I'd like to thank the support we have had in the poppy collection from our shop keepers, garages, and everybody who does so much for us. The people of Merstham village have been great."
