On a crisp and dry day on Friday 10th November 2023, Runnymede College pupils gathered together wearing poppies at 11am, on the top playground (for pupils in the Prep School and the Pre-Prep School) and in the Julia Powell Sports Hall (for Senior School pupils), to mark our respect for, and in remembrance of, people all around the world who have lost their lives in conflict. Remembrance is a National event in countries from within the Commonwealth, and as Runnymede is a proudly British education, we felt it was important to mark the occasion.
Children from Years 1 to 7 lined up in class order in the playground to hear words of remembrance from Duncan Bailey, Prep School Headmaster, which was followed by the Last Post – played by a visiting trumpeter, Thomas Aufdemberge. We all then observed a powerful minute’s silence, before the Reveille set them back off into their lessons.
Runnymede pupils and staff wore poppies as a symbol of the sacrifice of the soldiers, and in support of the Royal British Legion, and money was donated to support this charity.
When thinking of those who lost their lives, we reflected on the fact that many might once have been Runnymede pupils, and therefore we said the following:
The trod of old the field we tread,
They played the games we play
The part of them which is not dead,
Belongs to us today
