There were a number of special guests including the Deputy Lieutenant of Lancashire, Cosima Towneley, Major Eddy Hardaker, who is retiring after 47 years of service next year, and Cecilia Edmondson, who celebrates her 100th birthday this weekend. These, along with cadets, current service personnel, veterans and the community, enjoyed entertainment, coffee and cakes in school. The event was organised by Curriculum Leader of Performing Arts Renia Pagliuca . The choir performed wartime songs such as ‘Pack Up Your Troubles,’ ‘It’s a Long Way to Tipperary’, ‘White Cliffs of Dover’ and ‘We’ll Meet Again.” The school band played a number of wartime songs, there was a performance by the drama department while Music Teacher Mark Snowden performed The Last Post. Head teacher Deborah Williams said: “It was a fantastic event as always. It’s important young people understand the history and appreciate all those people who lost their lives for our freedom. It’s wonderful to see our talented pupils perform and to see our community come together. It makes me so proud.” Mrs Pagliuca said: “This is an important event which brings generations together - to help our young people understand the real stories behind the poppy and to enjoy the freedoms we enjoy today because of the sacrifices made by others. “Through these intergenerational experiences, remembrance becomes something living and meaningful, rather than just something observed.” Eddy said: “I have been to a number of Renia’s events but this is the first time I have been to Blessed Trinity’s Afternoon of Remembrance and it was a great event. “It’s my last remembrance in uniform so it is nice to be here and see the community come together, from veterans to pupils, to show their respect.” Cecilia was wearing the medals of her husband Thomas, who died aged 100. She said: “I am proud to wear all his medals including the Legion de Mar, for invading Normandy. Thomas was in the Royal Marines. “It’s been a really nostalgic afternoon. I have enjoyed it.” Maria Hanley has looked into her dad’s history. He was in the Polish army and joined the English army in Palestine in 1940. He took part in the Battle of Monte Cassino in 1944. “I have researched my dad’s history. He came to England as he would have been killed by the Germans if he had gone back to Poland. The whole Afternoon of Remembrance moved me to tears.”
2. Contributed
Blessed Trinity's Afternoon of Remembrance Pupils Dawud and Matilda Photo: Submitted
