Remembrance Day has always made me feel slightly uncomfortable in the past. My grandfather was a pilot in World War II, but I didn't really get a chance to know him as he died when I was young. I never asked him what it was like for him, I was probably too scared of his reply.

The poppy symbolises the losses on all sides that were suffered in the fight for freedom and peace. Even without this direct link of knowing a particular person who lost their life fighting for these causes I can still feel how powerful the symbolism is and what it means to so many people. For the first time since I have worked in Borough Market, the market as a whole celebrated and mourned these peoples lives. All trade ceased at 11am, a bugle played a short passage to announce the beginning of a one minute silence, and another to mark the end. It was deeply moving as many market stall workers congregated around the bugle player and stall that had been selling poppies. I am sure there were many tourists that had no idea what we were doing, but they paused and were silent in respect just these same.

Friends and family place poppies on the honour roll at the Remembrance Day commemoration service at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.
Photograph: Cole Bennetts/Getty Images

During the minutes silence I wondered if there was anything I had done in my life yet that might even begin to amount to deserving the sacrifices made for me to live in freedom and peace. I do think that it is important that we all stop every now and again and remember how lucky we are and to make the most of our lives, and also remember places that are currently in conflict and to help in any way that we can for them to achieve the blessing we have of freedom and peace.

Installation of poppies by Ted Harrison in honour the involvement of children in war, St Paul's Cathedral, London
Photograph: Ray Tang/Rex Features

I recommend that you take a look at the Guardian's Armistice Day marked around the world - in pictures. There are some very powerful and touching moments that have been captured.