Bedales remembers

Pupils and staff across the three Bedales Schools marked Remembrance Day with a series of thought-provoking commemorations.

On Remembrance Day itself, pupils and staff from Bedales Pre-prep, Prep and Senior Schools gathered outside the Memorial Library, which was built in 1921 to commemorate those who died in the First World War, for an Act of Remembrance led by Head of Bedales Schools Will Goldsmith and Bedales Prep, Dunhurst’s Deputy Head (Academic) Andy Wiggins.

From the steps of the Library, Dunhurst pupils read The Owl by poet and former Bedales parent Edward Thomas, before the choir performed Henry Purcell’s Thou Knowest, Lord the Secrets of our Hearts from the Funeral Music for Queen Mary. Bedales student Sukey Ridge read The Autumn of the World by Sir Herbert Read, a First World War officer who went on to write the influential book, Education Through Art, which is illustrated with the artwork of Bedales and Dunhurst pupils. After two minutes’ silence at 11am, the service concluded with The Last Post and Reveille, performed by Bedales and Dunhurst pupils.

Each of the schools also marked the event separately. Children in Year 3 at Bedales Pre-prep, Dunannie visited Steep Nursing Home, where they gave residents poppies they had made and read poems they had written, and at a Remembrance assembly at the end of the week, Deputy Head Sharon Rose spoke to all children about the significance of the poppy.

At a Remembrance assembly at Bedales Senior, students heard Old Bedalian Ferenc Békássy’s poem 1914 read in English and Békássy’s native Hungarian. Békássy is one of only two people connected with Bedales to have died fighting for the opposition, but is honoured in the Memorial Library’s roll of honour – which was read out by the Head Student team – in an early example of a tribute to the fallen on both sides.