REMEMBRANCE SERVICE

It was really poignant to gather on Middle Field, to talk about what Remembrance means, and to link it with our school histories. We learned about the survivors like Bill Hudspith, a French and Geography teacher at BVGS 1932-1946, who was parachuted behind enemy lines in Nazioccupied France, and was awarded the highest military honour, the Croix de Guerre, for bravery in liberating France from occupation.

We also learned about those who did not survive like Stanley Browne from Blue House, member of the rugby first XV from 1939-1940 killed in Italy in June 1944 near Assisi. We heard about Stanley Ellison, killed on the first day of the infamous Battle of the Somme, 1st July 1916. At BVGS, he was a prefect, a librarian, played first team hockey and cricket and was offered a place at Oxford University. Instead of going to university, he joined his father ’ s law firm. On 21 October 1915, he joined the South Staffordshire regiment. He was sent to France in June 1916 and lost his life just one month later, at the age of 19.

It was moving to hear our School Captains, Blessing and Krishan read powerful war poems: Dulce et Decorum Est and In Flanders Fields.

We were also so lucky to hear our amazing trumpeter, Matthew Monaghan delivering an absolutely exceptional rendition of the Last Post and Reveil.

Above all, a huge thank you to all members of the School for demonstrating a real respect and reverence for Remembrance.

To quote Laurence Binyon: “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. ”