Royal Navy and D-Day veteran Albert Keir, 99, from Bakewell, joined our Civic Chairman Councillor Tony Kemp, and Vice Civic Chairman Councillor Kewal Singh Athwal for the ceremony held at 11am.
Also present at the service were HM Vice Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire Colonel John Wilson OBE DL and the High Sheriff of Derbyshire Ian Morgan OBE.
The service, which included a 2-minute silence, saw Mr Keir, who is decorated with a National Order of the Légion d’honneur, delivering Ode – For the Fallen. The names of fallen council officers which are commemorated on a memorial at County Hall were read out by Councillor Tony Kemp.
A number of wreaths, including a purple wreath to honour animals that served in war and conflict, were laid by the memorial inside County Hall.
The Last Post and Reveille were played by our employee Izzy Jepson.
Pictured before the service are (front row to back row, left to right):
(Front row) The High Sheriff of Derbyshire Ian Morgan OBE, D-Day veteran Albert Keir and HM Vice Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire Colonel John Wilson OBE DL.
(Second row) Deputy Mayor of Matlock Councillor Marilyn Franks, county council Civic Chairman Councillor Tony Kemp and county council Vice Civic Chairman Councillor Kewal Singh Athwal.
(Third row) Councillor Ed Fordham on behalf of the Liberal Democrat Group, who as well as a wreath laid a purple wreath to honour animals that served in war and conflict, Councillor Simon Spencer on behalf of the Conservative Group and Councillor Christine Dale on behalf of the Labour Group.
(Fourth row), Captain (retired) Al Belton on behalf of the Intelligence Corps, our staff member and bugle player Izzy Jepson and our Executive Director Joe O’Sullivan on behalf of our staff members.
(Fifth row), Vincent Trussell on behalf of UNISON, David Matthews on behalf of GMB, Adrian Baldwin on behalf of UNITE and William Lowe on behalf of UNITE.
Also present at the service was Army veteran Andy Howard, who is the Chairman of the Bakewell and District branch of the Royal British Legion, who accompanied Mr Keir along with his son Andrew Keir, and County Councillor Richard Iliffe who laid a wreath.