Remembrance

Author:

Mrs Bonthron - Assistant Head of Shakespeare College

Sir Geoffrey Leigh Academy hosted a deeply moving Service of Remembrance this year, uniting the school community in honouring the sacrifices of servicemen and women across all conflicts. The ceremony successfully blended tradition with powerful, unique symbolic elements, reinforcing the academy's commitment to historical awareness and global citizenship.

The service was a central event for the academy, attended by students, staff, and a local veteran who shared their invaluable perspective on service and dedication. This personal connection provided students with a poignant, firsthand understanding of the commitment being commemorated.

In a key moment of the ceremony, wreaths were laid by student and staff representatives, a solemn act demonstrating the community's lasting pledge to remember the fallen.

A striking visual memorial was created using ceramic poppies, sourced from the famous Tower of London 'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red' exhibition. These poppies were installed or displayed on the grounds, creating a powerful, artistic representation of the scale of sacrifice.

The atmosphere of reflection culminated with the sounding of "The Last Post," leading into the traditional two-minute silence observed at 11:00 am. The service also included the recitation of the iconic poem "In Flanders Fields," ensuring the enduring poetic expressions of remembrance were heard by all.