Children taught lesson in forgiveness as they pay tribute with poems and wreaths

PUPILS at Rupert House School in Henley commemorated the soldiers who fought in the world wars.

A service was held on Monday which was attended by staff, including headteacher Nick Armitage, and parents which was led by Rev Jeremy Tayler, the rector of Henley and Remenham.

Mr Armitage welcomed the congregation and said: “Yesterday the heads of school and I laid a wreath at the town hall steps as part of the Remembrance Day service and it was so special to come together with the other groups and organisations to pay their respects.

“It was very moving to see groups of cadets, and those who have served being recognised and applauded by the community for what they do.

“The Mayor of Henley yesterday quoted Mahatma Gandhi, who worked tirelessly for peace in India, who said that ‘An eye for an eye will make the world blind’.

“It’s important that we can forgive and work together for freedom. So, we now come together, as a school community, to remember those who have died and made sacrifices for our freedom.” Year 6 student Aoife-Rose Anness said: “The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month marked the signing of the armistice. The guns of the Western Front fell silent after four years of continuous warfare.

“The simple act of wearing a poppy recognises the special role of the armed forces community and it is a symbol of hope, peace and freedom.”

Cecily Stonor and Matilda Lait, who are also in Year 6, read the poem In Flanders Fields by John McCrae and Rosie Clark read For the Fallen by Laurence Binyon.

Sophia Candy spoke about the significance of the day and introduced the Last Post. The crowd observed one minute’s silence.

The schools chamber choir sang a setting by Niki Davies of In Flanders Fields.

Rev Tayler led the congregation in prayer.

He said: “Ever living God, we remember those whom you have gathered from the storm of war into the peace of your presence.

“May that same peace calm our fears and bring justice to all people and establish harmony among the nations through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.”

George Lamb sounded the Last Post on the trumpet and year two student Ottilie Lamb played Abide With Me.

It was the student’s second year in a row playing at the school service. Her mother Georgie Lamb said that she had been practising all weekend to get the piece right.

She said: “To see her and her dad up there, and her so small next to him, was so lovely. She has worked really hard to try and get it right so I’m glad it went ok.

“She’s been playing the trumpet since she was five because her dad does and she has just always wanted to learn, so she’s been learning here at school. It’s her passion really.

“We always come to the remembrance parade to see all the children standing there, remembering, all so well behaved and enjoying that moment of thinking of others, it’s always really special. It’s always a lovely day.”

Each year group handmade a wreath which was laid at the school’s “Garden of Remembrance”.

The wreaths were laid by two pupils from each year level. The first was laid by head pupils Eloise Wouters and Alice Vernon with Wilfie Williams and Emilia Franklin, from reception class.

Eloise said: “It was really good I really enjoyed the trumpeting, and I think it was very special.

“I like how the chamber choir do the song every time because it just adds a little bit so it’s still solemn, but it’s less solemn, and it’s a very nice morning.

“It’s important to remember on this day because they gave their lives for us and fought for our country so we could be free.”

Alice said: “I like that it’s traditional, we do it every year, but we don’t do it exactly the same way every year. It’s nice because you’re celebrating our freedom. Young kids might not already know about this so we need to appreciate what it means.”

Rev Tayler led the crowd in the Lord’s Prayer followed by a final prayer.

Mr Armitage said that he was impressed by his pupils’ engagement throughout the service.

He said: “Our remembrance is really important to us as a community, that children know the sacrifices made for them in the past and what people have been through.

“Father Jeremy is so kind in coming back each year and it was so great that so many of the parents and grandparents wanted to come along. I was so impressed that the students were so well behaved and were engaging and listening and taking it on board.”