Our College Community came together this morning to observe Remembrance Day.

Our Infant and Junior pupils attended a beautiful service at the Parish Church of St John the Baptist in Aldford, led by the Rev. Karl Jones. The children sat among the ‘There but not there’ silhouettes that we are proud to have helped to purchase and we were joined by a number of parents, some of the residents of Aldford, including Mr and Mrs Weaver, our Infant and Junior School prefects and staff and student representatives from our Senior School.

At the same time, our Senior School and Sixth Form students and all staff attended a Remembrance Assembly at Saighton Grange, joined by pupils and staff from our neighbouring Saighton C of E Primary School.

The assembly began with a stunning performance from our Chapel Choir, before our Head of English, Mrs Donarski, spoke to the audience about the importance and significance of the poetry of WW1, of the poets’ experiences themselves and how that influenced their work.

Head of Music, Mr Andrews read ‘In Flanders Fields’ by John McCrae, and was followed by Head of History, Mr Dickins who spoke of the connections of some of the fallen of WW1 to our College community. Students whose relatives were killed in action, and where they lay. In some cases, the memorials to these servicemen have been found during history trips to France and Belgium, and the related students have been able to connect with their own family history of the conflict.

The Chapel Choir, joined by pupils from Saighton Primary performed again, and were followed by Head Mr Jenkinson, who spoke about what Remembrance Day really means today, and what would those we pause to remember really think about the international headlines of current conflict, disquiet and denial. You can read his full address here.

Wreaths were laid by our Heads of School and pupils from Saighton Primary.

The student body across both sites were quiet and respectful throughout, a credit to our culture at Abbey Gate College.