DESPITE the pandemic, Dorset came together to honour those who paid the ultimate sacrifice on Remembrance Day.
Scaled-back services were held around the area, with hundreds tuning in to watch local events via social media.
At Weymouth's Nothe Fort, an invite-only ceremony was held under social distancing measures, attended by around 100 people. The Nothe Fort's cannons were fired in a special tribute to the armed forces, while wreaths were laid by representatives of the armed forces, emergency services and local organisations.
Mr Farquharson said: "Having a drone flying above your head is not great - it was big and quite loud, and people were nervous as it was so close. It was quite a big one and was zoning in on vicar Brian Ellis as he was reading out the prayers - I was absolutely fuming.
"On the plus side, it was really great to still be able to hold a remembrance service in Weymouth - all the main elements of Remembrance came together, including prayers and Last Post on the bugle. We had representatives and war veterans from all three armed services, as well as emergency services, with careful social distancing measures in place.
"It was just as it would be at the cenotaph, except without the thousands of townsfolk who would normally have attended - but it was well attended via social media."
Meanwhile, Gary Hepburn, warden of All Saints Church in Wyke Regis, Weymouth, said their virtual commemoration was a success.
"We've had great feedback - around 50 to 100 households tuned in online," he said.
"We had to put it together at short notice but were able to hold a 20 minute service, with an introduction from chair of the Royal British legion Michael Gill, and prayers from our vicar brother Alasdair Kay. We read out the names of all the individuals from Wyke who died in the wars, followed by a two-minute silence and a bugle player supplied by Weymouth Concert Brass.
"Wreaths were laid at Wyke war memorial, followed by another blessing and a hymn. I think everybody appreciated it and it was nice to be able to do something - it's now uploaded to Facebook so people more people can watch."
In Dorchester the town council held a shortened, socially distanced, Service of Remembrance at the War Memorial, led by pastor Mark Topp of the Storehouse church. Wreaths were laid by the mayor, plus representatives of the military, veterans and public services during the service; these were supplemented throughout the day by other groups. Dorchester mayor councillor Richard Biggs and Tess James from the Dorchester Lübbecke Society also laid a wreath at the German Prisoner of War Memorial in Fordington Cemetery. A video of the event can be found on the town council Facebook page.
Meanwhile, on Portland, a church service including act of Remembrance was held via Zoom by Portland's All Saints Church, while residents found a touching and unusual way to honour those who gave their lives. Around 600 pebbles painted with poppy designs were laid at war graves in the naval cemetery and the cenotaph, in a tribute organised by resident Kirsty Gardner.
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