Silence was interrupted only by the rustle of leaves, the rumbling of a distant tractor and the tweets of birds circling above. The Packwood Community came on Armistice Day, first in front of the theatre for a Year 8 led Assembly, and then our Act of Remembrance in the ‘Remembrance Copse’. As the names of the 48 Packwoodians who lost their lives in World War I and II were read out, our Year 8s laid a poppy at the base of each tree planted in their individual memory. Roddy and Grace, our Heads of School, spoke and Will played the Last Post, as beautifully as Freddie had done on Sunday in Church.
Observing the stillness of a community coming together in thought and respect, it is hard not to imagine the life these youngsters will go on to lead, opportunities that were denied many of the Packwoodians who fought in World War I.
That is why bringing even the youngest members of our school communities together to engage in remembrance is so important. They won’t understand the meaning, but they will – year on year – observe their senior peers (in our case, the outstanding contribution from our Year 8s) leading them in a solemn ceremony which is wholly focused on respect, gratitude and deep reflection.
Our Head Boy and Head Girl, Year 8s, our two trumpeters and the Chapel Choir led the commemorative events in Ruyton Church and at School with a most impressive air of dignity and respect.
