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Members of the Bedales community marked this year’s Remembrance with a series of commemorative events to honour those who have lost their lives in war.
On Tuesday 11 November, students and staff from across the Pre-prep, Prep and Senior schools gathered for a poignant service of Remembrance, assembling by the steps of the Bedales Memorial Library. Built in 1921 to commemorate the staff and students who died in the First World War, the Library provided an apt setting for the school community to reflect on the sacrifice and bravery of those who have fought and died in conflicts.
The ceremony was led by Head of Bedales Will Goldsmith, Head of Bedales Prep Clare Kirkham and Head Students Adam, Anna, Iggy and Alex, who read out the student roll of former Bedalians who lost their lives in the First and Second World Wars.
At 11am, trumpeters from the Prep and Senior schools played ‘The Last Post’ to signal the start of the two-minute silence, closing with the sounding of ‘Reveille’. The service continued with compelling readings of Vera Brittain’s poem ‘ War Generation: Ave’, spoken by 6.2 (Year 13) student Olive and Eleanor Farjeon’s ‘Now That You Too Must Shortly Go’, read by Block 2 (Year 8) students Eva and Miller, as well as a moving performance from the Choir and closing speech from Will Goldsmith. At Bedales Prep, a special Remembrance Day assembly was also held to mark the event, with thought-provoking performances from students to honour the courage of those who fought for freedom and a future with peace, respect and kindness.
Bedales Senior students also commemorated the occasion in the community, volunteering alongside other local schools and organisations at the Remembrance Sunday parade in Petersfield on 9 November. In what has become an important tradition for the school, the students supported Petersfield Town Council and the Royal British Legion by distributing orders of service and collecting donations for the Poppy Appeal, helping to raise £1774.68 on the day. As part of the Remembrance events, Sixth Form students Amelie and Bea laid a wreath at the Petersfield War Memorial on behalf of Bedales School.
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