Hundreds of people gathered at Falmouth’s war memorial

But for one 81-year-old para veteran the day was particularly bittersweet as it was his last Remembrance Sunday as parade marshal.

Tom orchestrates his last Remembrance Sunday from his usual vantage point with his famous clipboard (Image: Paul Armstrong)

After ten years Tom French is hanging up his famous clipboard as he says he’s not as fit as he used to be and is handing it over to someone else.

However, at today’s parade Tom was once again firmly in charge, telling everybody where to go from his usual vantage point at the memorial stone orchestrating the event and calling out the names of those who lay the wreaths.

Tom came to Cornwall from central London in 1972 for a quieter life he says, although he lives in Troon he says he won't consider himself an honorary Cornishman for another 50 years.

Veterans share a private moment before the parade starts (Image: Paul Armstrong)

He took over the role of parade marshal ten years ago and has been in charge ever since.

He told the Packet he has hip and knee problems and now found it harder to make it up the hills, but he was gutted to have to give it up.

The vicar gave a reading at the service (Image: Paul Armstrong) I’m absolutely gutted,” he said. “I can’t believe I’m doing it but I’m struggling up the hills a little bit now.”

Tom served with the 10th Battalion the Parachute Regiment and was a territorial army volunteer reserve from 1964 to 1971.

Tom French watches as Falmouth Mayor Alan Rowe lays his wreath on behalf of the town council (Image: Paul Armstrong)

He was in the local Parachute Regiment Association but over the years he became unhappy with how they were marching the standards at some of the parades and thought he could do a better job. He approached the Royal British Legion who put him through its parade marshal course and he hasn’t looked back.

Veterans form up in the park (Image: Paul Armstrong)

“Falmouth has always been good with loads and loads of different parades and that, so they’re masters at it.”

He is also parade marshal for the Royal Navy on Madron Day and the RAF. He says he will still probably do his little service over Illogan where there 50 war graves in the cemetery.

Falmouth Scouts prepare to form up at the start of the parade (Image: Paul Armstrong)

The war memorial there includes the names of the Gronert twins Claude and Thomas who died together at Arnhem in 1944 after joining the Paras.

Born in 1923 and raised in Cornwall they worked together in the South Crofty tin mine, meaning they were classed as essential workers and did not face conscription. However, they both volunteered to serve in the Airborne forces in 1943. They were killed side by side.

Two minute silence (Image: Paul Armstrong)

Tom’s final act in charge in Falmouth will be at the two-minute silence held on Monday, November 11 at the St Nazaire Memorial on the Prince of Wales Pier to mark Armistice Day.

Today he was joined by his family including his wife Jenny, his three children, their partners and his five grandchildren at the war memorial in Kimberely Park following the wreath laying.

Before he dismissed the parade on the Moor, the Mayor of Falmouth Alan Rowe presented him with the "Freedom of Falmouth".

To the people of Falmouth he said: “Thank you very much for your support over the years, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it and I hope you’ve enjoyed it as much as I have over the years.”