Our annual remembrance assembly took place on Friday 9th November when the whole school fell silent to remember those who lost their lives in the service of our country.

Students’ interest and awareness of the commemoration of 100 years since the end of the First World War had been heightened during the history lessons of Years 7, 8 and 9 where Miss McElroy had been studying with her students the story of some of the Shipston fallen. With reference to the book “Shipston Remembers” each student in the group had prepared their own individual poppy with a personal message to a named soldier – or an unknown soldier – and these poppies were used to decorate the whole of the back wall of the assembly hall, along with the Royal British Legion “Tommy” figure. The effect of the red poppies on the white wall was amazing and provided a very suitable backdrop to the assembly. It was very interesting to learn that one of the soldiers remembered was, in fact, the great, great, great Grandfather of our student Connor Begley, who is the current Standard Bearer for the British Legion.

We are grateful to the members of the Shipston branch of the Royal British Legion for taking time out during their busy Poppy Appeal fortnight to join us, especially Legion Chairman Richard Adams for leading the assembly.