On Tuesday, people gathered in the waiting room of Preston Railway Station to pay tribute to those who died for their country.

In a ceremony held at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month, they remembered the fallen on the 90th anniversary of the end of World War One and offered thanks to the Preston Free Buffet, run by volunteers from the station.

A plaque in the waiting room reads: "During the Great War of 1914 to 1919 this room was, by permission of the L & N and L & Y Railway companies, occupied from August 19 1915 to November 11 1919 by the Preston Station Sailors and Soldiers Free Buffet Association of voluntary workers, who supplied three and a quarter millions of the sailors and soldiers who passed through...with refreshments and comforts..."

Reverend Dr Richard Cookson, Police and Railways Chaplain in the North West, reminded those present of the scale and value of the service.

He said: "A weekly order when the buffet reopened in the Second World War was 1,500 loaves, fourhundredweight of margarine, 1,000 meat and potato pies, 116 dozen tea cakes, 500 sausage rolls, 200lb of jam, 210lb of cheese, 84 dozen tomatoes and threehundredweight of sugar."

Rev Cookson, like many others at the ceremony, had personal connections to the buffet service.

Speaking after the service he said: "My father came through here just after the outbreak of the Second World War, and had the chance of a quick few days with my mum.

" I looked at photos of soldiers at the Records Office, and there was one of three soldiers stood outside the buffet on Preston Station. One of them was my dad."

Cliff Gregson, a member of the Lancastrian Brigade band, said: "My grandfather, John Gregson, went through this station three times during the First World War.

"He was killed in action at Ypres. So my father and three others were left without a father, the same as thousands and thousands of others.
"We still visit his grave regularly in Belgium."

Speaking during the service, Mayor of Preston Coun John Swindells said: "Ninety years ago the people of Preston had probably never been out of the county and many of them would not have left Preston before they went off, never to return.

"The people of Preston supported the buffet here to provide cups of tea and sandwiches, and continue to support the servicemen of this country. I don't think there could be a more appropriate place to hold this ceremony."

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