An Evening of Remembrance

On the evening of Monday 10^th November students, staff and members of the local community gathered to commemorate the centenary of the First World War at the Evesham Arts Centre. In what was a sell out production, students from the school performed a range of performance pieces which included music, drama, poetry and historical readings. The quality of the performances were astonishing and included songs such ‘It’s a Long Way to Tipperary’ and ‘Keep the Home Fires Burning’ performed by the school’s barbershop choir ‘The Decorators’. There were Drama pieces inspired by Siegfried Sassoon’s ‘Aftermath’ and Wilfred Owen’s ‘Exposure’, with dramatic readings from among others, Michael Morpurgo’s ‘War Horse’, and the poetry of Edith Sitwell and John McCrae. 

The finale of the production was particularly poignant as ‘The Benedictus’ from Karl Jenkin’s “The Armed Man – A Mass for Peace” sung by the Chamber Choir rang out followed by a reading of ‘The Death of Harry Patch’. Students were then joined on stage by members of the local cadet forces, The Royal British Legion’ and Chelsea Pensioners to honour the One Minute Silence as the Last Post sounded and poppy petals fell from above.

The school was honoured by the presence of local dignitaries, the Royal British Legion and two Chelsea Pensioners for this very moving and memorable occasion. 

The ‘Evening of Remembrance’ forms part of a year-long ‘Remembrance Project’ which Prince Henry’s is conducting to properly commemorate the centenary of World War One. The inspiration for the project was the Roll of Honour within the school which records the names of former Prince Henry’s students. 

In addition to the ‘Evening of Remembrance’ students have visited the Hive in Worcester to conduct research into the school’s war dead. Other events within the school include assemblies held on the importance of Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day;  a visit by a drama group on 12^th November to perform ‘Your Country Needs You’; a Battlefields Trip planned for 2015, as well as numerous other contributions within lessons across the curriculum.

Mr B Freeman
Assistant Headteacher & Head of History