Woodford Green school celebrates diversity on Armistice Day

At two minutes to 11am on Armistice Day Woodbridge High School fell silent as the Last Post sounded across the school’s grounds.

Two students, Wilf Thurley, 13, and Will Clifton, 12, and two teachers played the song at various places in the school so all the pupils could hear the evocative tune.

During the two minute silence a slideshow of images of diverse men and women in the armed forces was put on, so the school could remember the fallen 98 years to the minute since the guns stopped in the First World War.

Before this pupils at the school, in St Barnabas Road, Woodford Green, discussed why poppies are used to commemorate the fallen soldiers, whether FIFA should have banned them and the importance of remembering.

Year 9 pupil Nithusan Ketheeswaran said this helped him “realise how important this day really is”.

“It made me think about the people who suffered and the mothers who lost their children,” he said.

“But at the end of the day its about remembering and respecting the soldiers who lost their lives for this country.”

Saimah Zaman, also in Year 9, commented: “The slideshow of images during the two minute silence helped to show us the diversity of soldiers.

“We learned in our history lessons how men of the Empire joined the war but you never see those pictures, it helped me to understand how everyone got involved and worked together for victory which made me feel proud.”

Teacher Moyra Whelan organised the remembrance.

She told the Recorder: “Woodbridge students always approach this day with maturity and respect which we are really proud of.

“To keep it relevant, so that it doesn’t become tokenistic or out of touch with today’s generation, we make sure to include recent examples where it has reached the news.”

She added: “Our students and music teachers, who played the Last Post beautifully, helped to add to the poignancy of why we remember.”