For the first time in many years, the weather meant we couldn’t gather on the main yard for our Remembrance service. Instead, we live-streamed from the school Chapel, allowing the service to be shared around the building.
Senior Prefects and staff led readings and prayers, while pupils Mal and Charlie, both members of the local cadets, marched and laid wreaths alongside Year 11 pupil Grace. The whole school observed the two minutes’ silence with great respect and reflection and Miss Javaid led the Last Post and Reveille. Moor End primary school who were visiting for a curriculum enrichment session at the time also respectfully joined in with the 2 minute silence.
A moving poem written and read by Miss Mortensen was also shared, paying tribute to the Accrington Pals and all members of the Commonwealth who have served our country.
Lest we forget.
In Accrington we have a special connection to world war one because of the Accrington Pals.
Come on lads, join up with your friends, To bring this frightful war to an end. Make Accrington proud, Stand out from the crowd, Stand with your mates, Stand against hate, When the guns roar And the blood pours, And the losses are hard to bear In a town where everyone cares. Where everyone loses someone On the Somme to those terrible guns.
But what about the wider story— Other countries, faiths, their glory? Fighting side by side, No place for pride to divide. All the same, all having mothers, Sons and daughters, sisters, brothers. Who gave their lives for liberty, No matter their nationality. So we could live in tolerance and peace, And let the hate and violence cease.
Yet still the world is torn by war— Civilians suffering more and more. From Gaza’s grief to Ukraine’s pain,
The cries of loss still fall like rain. Children caught in crossfire’s blast, Dreams and futures fading fast. When will we say, “No more, no more,” And close the ever-open door To conflict, greed, and endless fight, And choose instead what’s just and right?
Let’s stand by values we hold dear, And honour the Pals year after year. But also raise our voices loud For peace, for justice, and be proud To speak for those who have no choice, To give the voiceless back their voice. So no more happiness is missed, And all may learn to coexist. No more people sadly lost, No more communities count the cost.
