WAR veterans will have pride of place near the front of this year’s Remembrance Sunday march in Northwich.

In recent years, the number of former soldiers, sailors, airmen and auxiliaries attending the parade has dwindled, to the point where those who do attend have joined the crowds following behind.

But this year, thanks to Iraq and Afghanistan veteran Andy Morrey and Northwich town clerk Chris Shaw, the veterans will lead the groups of organisations taking part in the parade.

Andy believes more veterans will attend now their place has been assured.

He said: “People have been asking me why the veterans aren’t on parade, and I couldn’t give them an answer.

“At the last Remembrance Parade, we just walked up the side, and we felt we had no place on ‘our parade', as we call it. 

“It wasn’t the council’s fault - it was that the veterans didn’t turn up in numbers and say, ‘yes, we’re here’.

“It really needed sorting out.”

Andy and his fellow veterans discussed this at their monthly breakfast club meeting at the Royal British Legion in Davenham.

They decided Andy should address the issue with the town council, and town clerk Chris Shaw agreed to a meeting.  

Andy added: “Chris bent over backwards to help. He made it very clear the town wanted us there.

“We’ve been promised now that we’d be at the front, just behind the band with our standards, and we’ve got a little spot by the cenotaph where the veterans can stand.

“I’m pushing hard to get all the veterans out of their houses and on parade.

“This year, because it is the Platinum Jubilee, I think we should make a big effort.

“All men who serve in the forces are proud of their monarchs. We served our Queen and country and we’re very proud of that.”

Northwich town clerk, Chris Shaw, said: "The veterans will be in the parade, they'll be near the front, and we're going to reserve some seating in the church, also near the front.

"We've asked Andy to be parade marshal for the veterans.

"It's their day, and we really want it to feel that way."