This year, like many things, Armistice Day was a little different because of coronavirus. England was in the middle of a four-week national lockdown during this time but, with stringent safety measures in place, St John’s was able to come together at Byron and Senior House to commemorate those who have fallen and mark this occasion with sincerity and respect.
Armistice Day is on 11 November and is also known as Remembrance Day. It marks the day World War One ended, at 11am on the 11th day on the 11th month in 1918. A two-minute silence is held at 11am to remember the people who have died in wars. Remembrance Sunday is also marked each year, and this falls on the second Sunday in November. Dr Maxwell, at Senior House, and Miss Pipe, at Byron House, both spoke poignantly about why it is important to remember this date in history for those who have sacrificed their lives for their countries so we can live in peace.
The children stood in their respective bubbles and listened in silence to The Last Post, which signalled the start of the two-minute silence. The traditional playing of The Last Post and Reveille was performed by one Form 5 at Byron and two Form 6 at Senior House. One of the Form 6 performers reflected, ‘Although it was slightly nerve racking to play such a precision-requiring piece in front of most of the school in total silence, it also made us realise what an honour it was to be asked to do it. Not only did we get through both The Last Post and the Reveille, we also enjoyed it. It was a much deeper and stronger way of remembering those who have died in conflict and it was an important experience that will stay with us forever.’
Children across both sites created poppies and peace birds in art, designed them out of maths materials and took black and white photos of their hands before creating Peace poems. Children in Form 2 wrote words about Armistice Day in the centre of large poppies in black and then focused on positive words in red for the petals. At Senior House, many English classes took this time to reflect by writing poetry.
