King’s Remembrance 2018

Pupils, staff, members of the Old Vigornian community and friends of the school participated in a number of commemorative activities on Friday to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

The day started with a Service of Remembrance in College Hall, with a special address led by Old Vigornian Commander Durham Hirons. Durham is a Commander in the Royal Navy and has served predominantly at sea in ships ranging from patrol vessels through frigates and destroyers to large amphibious ships and an aircraft carrier. Durham’s address is available to listen back on SoundCloud.

A two minute silence was observed as part of the service, with the Last Post played by Lower Sixth Music Scholar Andrew Gee.

Following the service, Durham joined a Religion and Philosophy lesson with Upper Sixth pupils to tell them more about his career, and to participate in a debate on The Ethics of War

Members of the Old Vigornian Club, retired staff and former parents were invited to a lecture in the John Moore Theatre, entitled A War Worth Winning, delivered by Old Vigornian Jon Palmer. With an MA in British First World War studies from Birmingham University, and as a member of the Western Front Association and the Douglas Haig Fellowship, Jon delivered a thought provoking and compelling lecture.

The day concluded with a poignant staged reading entitled Before the Daylight Fades Away in the Wightman Studio. The performance focused on the letters from three OV brothers, the Wilmot boys, writing back to their mother, all who died in the war, as well as other famous works of the time, by Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon.

In the lead up to Remembrance Day, the King’s School Archivist Mrs Patrick has been working alongside local author and historian Mark Rogers to produce a very special book, All the King’s Men. As we mark the centenary of the end of World War One, this book records every OV who fought and lost their lives in WWI, WWII and the Boer War. With generous support from the OV Club, every pupil across the senior school has received a copy to take home. We are very grateful to the OV Club and hope that pupils will enjoy and treasure this truly unique piece of King’s history.