The Eastbourne College community gathered on Remembrance Day and Armistice Day in a series of events to remember those who lost their lives in conflict.
The school community paid tribute to those who fought and died in the world wars, more than 12,000 British servicemen and women killed or injured since, and the communities convulsed by conflict and war across the world today.
A total of 12 pupils from the school lost their lives in the Boer War, 174 in the First World War, 165 in the Second World War and six in other conflicts.
Remembrance Day this year was marked with the traditional Remembrance Day service. The College Chapel was full to the brim with over 300 in the congregation. Eastbournians experienced and took part in a number of moving hymns, prayers and readings orated by cadets, and Deputy Head Co-Curricular, Colonel Anthony Lamb MBE DL, delivered a sobering address. His address pointed out that this was not the time to move on or to do something different, that keeping the memory alive was everything: “Every single loss of life during conflict is a personal tragedy and the memorials in each village, town and school remain as poignant reminders of the scars; we must never forget that.”
The service was followed by a contingent parade with over 300 taking part in an Act of Remembrance on College Field, including governors, pupils, staff and military personnel; pausing to mark the 11th hour. Captain (retired) Mark Harris (OE) laid a wreath on behalf of the Eastbournian Society and a group of pupils also marched through Eastbourne as part of the town’s commemoration event.
This year, the College were also proud to welcome St Catherine’s College CCF. Eastbourne College partnered with St Catherine’s 18 months ago and have been mentoring and supporting the creation of their first CCF section. In June, St Catherine’s pupils were invited to join the College CCF’s annual summer camp.
Armistice Day was marked by two whole-school events, an Act of Remembrance at the College’s commemorative Memorial Arch, and a Remembrance concert and reflection in the evening, at All Saints’ Church.
In 2018, the College celebrated its 150th anniversary with a world-first 3D Video Mapping Show. The show dedicated significant time to honouring the pupils who fell in the world wars and other conflicts since. You can watch the nine-minute film of the show here.