About 150 people, from fidgeting minis to ramrod-straight grandparents, gathered at the Richmond and London Scottish Roll of Honour on Remembrance Sunday to mark the annual moment when Britain commemorates its war dead.

A misty morning was clearing and the younger mini squads were finishing their weekly sessions as the clock approached 11am.

Richmond FC’s Jim Kottler, officiating for the first time as President, called the assembled crowd to order and marked the beginning of the traditional two minutes’ silence.

So well observed was this poignant period of reflection that keen ears could pick up the mist-muffled sounds of ceremonial cannon fire at the central London Remembrance event.

After the perfectly-observed silence ended, wreaths of poppies were laid by Stephen Pearson, club chairman, for London Scottish and by Rob Robins for Richmond under the respective honour boards of the two clubs.

Mr Robins then gave a moving recital of In Flanders Field, the poem written in 1915 by Lt Col John MacRae, whose words reminded all, young and old, of our common duty never to forget the war dead nor allow the need for such sacrifice to recur.