SOLDIERS from Oxfordshire who died in the two world wars and more recent conflicts have been honoured in a special ceremony.

The Turning the Pages tribute was staged at Christ Church Cathedral on Saturday.

People gathered in the cathedral off St Aldate’s to pay their respects to soldiers from the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and The Queen’s Own Oxfordshire Hussars.

The names of the servicemen are read aloud and sometimes families of the soldiers attend to pay their respects.

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In March, for the first time, names were also read out of servicemen from the Royal Green Jackets and The Rifles who died in more recent conflicts.

A new book was created to include the regiments and was formally handed over to the cathedral for safe keeping, and these names are now being read out at all Turning the Pages ceremonies.

Brigadier Robin Draper, president of the Oxford branch of the Oxford branch of the Royal Green Jackets Association, who oversaw the creation of the new book, said earlier: “It’s important that we remember not just those who gave their lives in the two wars but also those who have died in the secondary regiments of the Ox and Bucks - The Royal Green Jackets and The Rifles, in places such as Borneo, Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan.”

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The Royal Green Jackets were formed in the 1960s when the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, which had existed since 1881, was merged with a number of other regiments.

Then in 2007 the Royal Green Jackets were themselves amalgamated with a number of other regiments to form The Rifles.

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The Turning the Pages ceremony, which is backed by the Oxford branch of the Royal Green Jackets Association and the Royal British Legion, takes place at least four times a year.

The ceremony which takes place closest to or on the day of the November 11 Armistice is usually particularly well attended.

Retired Colonel Mike Vince MBE is now in charge of organising the ceremony.

Last year Christ Church staged a special art installation to mark the centenary the Armistice.

There was a stunning and sound and light display entitled Poppy Field, designed by internationally renowned artist Peter Walker.

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Mr Walker is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and has produced sculptures, drawings and installation pieces all over the world.

The Christ Church sound-and-light display featured the voice of the Oscar-winning actor Eddie Redmayne.

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A unique mix of projection, music and words, the tribute was the result of Mr Walker’s collaboration with composer and sound artist David Harper, whose compositions are often featured in BBC and Channel 4 TV productions.

It was first shown in Lichfield Cathedral in 2016 when it attracted national acclaim.

Those attending the free experience at Christ Church were invited to walk through a virtual ‘field of poppies’.

The next ceremony is expected to take place on Monday, November 11, which is Armistice Day.