This year would have been the 100th birthday of my maternal grandfather.

He’s someone I always think about at this time of year, as we remember those who served and those who gave their lives in our Armed Forces.

Serving in the Royal Air Force during and after the Second World War, he’d be the first to say that he was one of the lucky ones who got to live to an old age.

He died in 2016 aged 93, but as those who served in that conflict are fewer, the responsibility of the rest of us to keep their memory alive grows in importance.

Fortunately, there are plenty willing to keep the flame of Remembrance alive in Torfaen today.

Our local Royal British Legion branches and veterans groups do such a vital job. Not only do they raise funds for the Poppy Appeal, but they also hold events so that local people can gather to mark the occasion.

I volunteered to help the Pontypool RBL Branch at their collection in Pontypool Tesco’s this year, and the support we got from the public was as strong as ever.

More than £15,000 was raised thanks to generous shoppers.

What also meant a lot to me was the number of people who stopped to voice their support, or to tell a story about why they wanted to help. For some it was about family members or friends who served. For others, it was about their gratitude for the freedoms we enjoy.

The number of young people including school pupils who stopped by to donate was especially inspiring. Young people often get a bad press for being disrespectful, but on the evidence I saw nothing could be further from the truth.

Young and old also gathered together at the memorial gates in Pontypool on Remembrance Sunday, and at the two Remembrance concerts I attended in the previous week.

St Hilda’s Church on Thursday saw Torfaen Male Choir, Travis George and Griffithstown School Choir sing in front of an impressive crowd. On Friday at St Gabriel’s Church, Pontnewydd and the City of Newport Male Choirs entertained us. Both events raised funds for the RBL as well as bringing the community together.

Talking of singing, what a fantastic start to the season for Pontypool on the rugby pitch, with seven wins out of nine games in their first season back in the Premiership. Last Thursday the home game against Ebbw Vale was a great occasion, with nearly 3,000 fans and TV cameras in the Park to watch a closely fought game, ending with the right result. Nights like that made the long wait to get back into this league worthwhile.

Well done to all involved in the club. I look forward to being back at Pontypool Park for a game against another great Welsh club, Neath RFC, this Saturday at 2.30pm.