Remembrance Day Services: November 2021

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

It was a hugely important moment when, on Thursday morning, we gathered as a school community – Years 7 - 9 in the Hall and Years 10 - 13 in the Chapel – for our annual Remembrance Service. It was a privilege too to welcome Mrs Janet Talman, Director of Membership at the Royal British Legion, who offered her reflections on the significance of Armistice Day. In the 100th year of the Royal British Legion, Mrs Talman reminded us why, and how, we take time on 11 November to remember all those who have served our country, and all those who continue to do so. She spoke about the role of the Royal British Legion in supporting not only service men and women but their friends and family.

Closing the event, Mrs Neil remarked on the beautiful simplicity and solemnity of the service and on the importance of this annual, unchanging act of remembrance, encouraging us not only to find time in our busy lives to remember those who have served but to find it in ourselves to act with similar generosity when asked to make a sacrifice, or to give to others, in our own lives.

Many thanks go to all those involved in putting together this service, including members of the JLT and Year 11 Prefect Teams, Mrs Maria Davy and Mrs Katherine Bell, and the Year 7 girls who read prayers. A choral setting of Laurence Binyon’s iconic poem For the Fallen was exquisitely sung by the Sixth Form Choir, with solos by Isabella (U6WIN) and Nathalie (U6TAY), accompanied by Mr Hamish Dustagheer. The Last Post was delivered with solemnity and poise by Miss Lucy Warwick, focusing our minds on the moment when we all fell silent to remember those who gave their tomorrow for our today.

Dr Ian Taylor