‘I was only five when my uncle died serving his country - twenty years on, we still remember him’

On Remembrance Sunday, people from all walks of life come together to honour those who have lost their lives in conflict, from the First World War to the present day.

It is a time to reflect on the bravery of millions around the world, and for families to remember loved ones who never returned home.

Every year, my family gathers at my nan’s house in Colby. When the clock strikes 11am, she remembers her son, my mum remembers her brother, and I remember my uncle.

Together, we remember Flight Lieutenant Allan James Squires with love and the fondest of memories.

That annual gathering is our own way of marking Remembrance Sunday, remembering Allan not only as a serviceman but as a much-loved member of our family.

Allan was 39 when he died on September 2, 2006, among 14 British servicemen killed when an RAF Nimrod aircraft crashed in Afghanistan.

He was the pilot and captain of Nimrod XV230, which came down near Kandahar in southern Afghanistan during a military reconnaissance mission.

The crash was the single greatest loss of British military personnel in one incident since the Falklands War in 1982.

Allan was born and raised in the Clatterbridge and Buckley area of Merseyside and North Wales, but much of his family lived on the Isle of Man.

His parents, Brian and Anne Squires, had moved to Colby, while his sister, my mum Sarah Morton, lived in Port St Mary with her family.

Allan was married to Adele, and they had two children, my cousins Abigail and Graeme.

I was only five when he died, so my own memories of him are limited. But I have grown up hearing about his humility, kindness, determination and bravery, and the professionalism and skill he brought to his work.

For me, the stories shared by those who knew him have helped fill the gaps left by memories I was too young to hold on to. Their memories keep his story alive.

The Ministry of Defence described him as an exceptional pilot, aircraft captain and flying instructor whose experience and professionalism had influenced a generation of RAF pilots.

It is difficult to believe 20 years have passed since that September day, which changed my family’s lives forever.

On September 2 this year, my family and I attended a memorial event in Kinloss, Scotland, where Allan and the other servicemen had been based.

Relatives of all 14 men attended. The commemorations included singing by the military wives choir and wreaths laid at the dedicated memorial.

Later, there was a live band and dancing in a local pub.

It was a poignant but special day, bringing the families together once again to catch up, share memories and remember the men we had lost.

For me, Remembrance Sunday is about recognising the sacrifices made by those who gave their lives in service, but also remembering the people behind the uniforms and the families they left behind. It is important that their stories continue to be told, so that future generations understand the human cost of conflict.

The BBC has also produced a film marking the 20th anniversary for this year’s Remembrance Sunday broadcast.

It is proposed that the film will feature early in the BBC One programme, broadcast live from the Cenotaph in London between 10.15am and 12.45pm.

I will be back at my nan’s house to watch, as we remember my uncle Allan with nothing but love.