Ashville College has joined the international community in paying its respects to all those who gave their lives serving their country in the First and Second World Wars and conflicts since then, including former pupils and teachers who died in both World Wars.
After a two-minute silence, and the playing of ‘The Last Post’ by a single bugler, wreaths were laid at the College’s on-site war memorial on behalf of Ashville’s Prep School, Senior School, and the Ashvillian Society, the College’s alumni organisation.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the ceremony was attended by the three pupils who lay the wreaths and a small number of teachers and support staff, whilst the rest of the College participated in the annual commemoration from their classrooms.
As well as observing the two-minute silence, those indoors watched a Remembrance Service video created to mark the occasion.
The video was made by the College Chaplaincy team working closely with the Music and Drama departments. It features spoken word and musical performances by pupils, including a rendition of ‘Songbird’ and a pre-recording of the bugler’s ‘The Last Post’.
During the First World War, 300 former Ashvillians were called up and 38 died in the conflict. Eight of those were killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. The names of all those who died in both World Wars were featured in the video.
A war memorial, funded by the Old Boys’ Association, was constructed in 1921 and unveiled by Ashville Headmaster, Rev Alfred Soothill, and General Sir Ivor Maxse.