Queen Anne's School Virtual Remembrance Service

On the morning of Wednesday 11 November we held our annual Queen Anne’s School Remembrance Service.

This year’s service was rather different to our usual Remembrance Services due to Covid-19, and was live streamed from the Chapel to the whole school. You can watch our full virtual Remembrance Service here.

On Remembrance Day we remember those who died in World War I, World War II and all subsequent wars.

Our Lower Four students recalled the history of Remembrance Day, first known as Armistice Day. The First World War started in July 1914, and at the time was thought to not last very long and mostly be fought at sea, however this was not the case. In 1918 it was agreed that the fighting would stop on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.

Head of English Mrs Spellman read a poignant poem by Edward Thomas called ‘The Cherry Trees’. Thomas was eventually killed in the war, but his short poem remains relevant to this day.

"The cherry trees bend over and are shedding

On the old road where all that passed are dead,

Their petals, strewing the grass as for a wedding

This early May morn when there is none to wed."

4s Student Lauren S then lead us in a reading of John 14. 1-3, 27.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the burial of the unknown soldier in Westminster Abbey, a place that is very close to our hearts as a school community. Our Chaplain Reverend Rachel Ross Smith explained how the body of the unknown soldier was brought from France and buried in Westminster Abbey in the presence of the king, in 1920. Nobody knows exactly who this soldier was. He may be from any of the three services, the army, the navy or the air force, and from any part of the British Isles, Dominions or Colonies, but he represents all those who died who have no other memorial or known grave.

Upper Sixth student Jess E sang Dido’s Lament; a passionate song of grief and sorrow, in solidarity with those who grieved after the war, and those who still grieve today.

Reverend Ross Smith reminded us that peace is built not only by building property but by building connections with each other, something that is particularly important to remember in the current second UK lockdown.

Queen Anne’s Headmistress Julia Harrington introduced the Act of Remembrance, and we heard a performance of We Will Remember Them by our Consort Choir.

Students Ugene C (L5) and Charlotte Y (U5) lead the school in prayer, followed our Chapel and Community Prefect, before the Lard’s Prayer was spoken by the Chaplain.

We hope that this reminder of the sacrifices made for our freedom can inspire peace and understanding across our communities and the world.