Remembrance Day
There were two Remembrance Day services at the Royal Alexandra and Albert School on 11th November. This ensured that every child at the School had the opportunity to remember those who gave their lives for this country. The first service was for pupils aged seven to thirteen and it was followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the School’s flagpole. The second service was for older pupils, including the Sixth Form and it was attended by past pupils and other guests. At both services, the names of all the past pupils who had lost their lives in conflict were read aloud. The address at the services was given by the Headmaster, Paul Spencer Ellis and he talked of how the past pupils who were lost in the First World War, and other wars, were ordinary people just like them. By describing the lives of these people, including Graham Lambie who died in Northern Ireland in 1988, he gave pupils an insight into the magnitude of the loss for every family affected.
In the porch of the school Chapel, alongside the roll of honour for those lost in all the wars since the First World War, is a special memorial with details of the past pupils who lost their lives almost exactly one hundred years ago. The details of the lives lost are updated every few weeks when there is another hundredth anniversary of a life lost. Currently the porch has details of Eric Edwardes who came to the School (which was an orphanage at the time) in 1903 at the age of eight following the death of his father. He volunteered to join the army and despatched to serve in France on 28th October 1915. He died eleven days later on 8th November, just before his 20th birthday.
The School’s Cadets marched from Chapel to the flag pole for a wreath laying ceremony after the first service. They also formed an honour guard as people left Chapel after the second service.
Headmaster Paul D Spencer Ellis said “It is appropriate that we take time to remember those that have lost their lives in the service of this country. The behaviour of pupils throughout today has been respectful and dignified and they have taken Remembrance Day very seriously. Our Cadets, who have many new recruits amongst their number, performed their duties impeccably.”
11th November 2015
