Schools throughout the diocese organised special events to mark Remembrance Day and to keep the memory of those who lost their lives in World War I alive.
At St Paul’s Catholic College in Sunbury, the library has taken inspiration from the Tower of London for Remembrance. The librarian, Linda Endersby, asked all the students to make, draw or decorate a poppy to dedicate to anyone who had died in or been affected by war, or simply to remember a loved one they had lost. The school ran the project alongside the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal, collecting money in reception and the library.
‘I was thrilled with the response,’ said Miss Endersby. ‘We’ve had around 250 poppies, beautifully decorated with some really touching dedications. The students have really thought about the devastating effect of war on communities around the world.’
Head Teacher Ceri Bacon said ‘It is so important for the children to keep remembering. All the students took the project very seriously and I’m keen to keep it going next year and in the future.’
The staff and pupils at St Thomas More held a memorial service at 11am on 11 November in memory of those who lost their lives in World War I. The Head Girl and Head Boy led the Student Council and senior members of staff in a procession, carrying poppy wreaths and crosses. These were laid in our memorial garden and pupils from the rest of the school, as well as pupils from Earlham Primary School, who were invited to plant their poppies there.
Our two minute silence was preceded with The Last Post and closed with The Reveille, both played by Miss Blake. It was a solemn and respectful service.
This service is part of the programme of activities that school have arranged to commemorate the 100 years since the beginning of World War I. In school, pupils have been studying war poetry in their English lessons and have written their own poems imagining what life was like in war time Britain. Outside of school, staff and pupils enjoyed their visit to the Tower of London to see the ceramic poppies.
Pupils across a range of year groups will be visiting the battlefields of Northern France and Belgium to explore what life was like for the British soldiers in the trenches and to visit the war graves.
