A NIGHT of Remembrance song, drama and poetry is being staged at South Bromsgrove High School at 7pm tonight (Thursday) to mark 2014 being the centenary year of the First World War.
It will begin with a keynote speech by teacher, and local historian, Quintin Watt, who has taught history at South for more than 30 years. His presentation will detail the contribution made by the local community of Bromsgrove to The Great War.
More than 50 students from across the school will perform excerpts from First World War dramas, including Journey’s End, Accrington Pals and Blackadder Goes Forth.
And the chamber choir will perform a number of pieces from before, during and after the war, including the hymn ‘Only Remembered’ made famous by the film war horse.
Sketches will be staged from the ‘Wipers Times’, which was a newspaper created and distributed among soldiers during the Great War, and with poetry.
Some students will read poetry they had written themselves following a unit of work exploring aspects of the First World War.
As well as being aimed at providing a formal commemoration on behalf of the staff and students of the school, it was also held to raise funds for the British Legion 14-18 Legacy.
Mr Watt said: “The staff and students have come together to produce a thought-provoking event of Remembrance to commemorate this historic event.
“It will mark the beginning of a series of events that will take place during the next few years.
“We are pleased to be supporting the Royal British Legion’s 14-18 Legacy and the campaign to raise £1million for each of the centenary years.”
As well as tonight’s event, an exhibition of work done by students on the First World War has gone on display at the school and will run until next Friday (October 10).
Earlier in the year, a group of 47 students from South visited the First World War battlefields in northern France.
Staying in Ypres, they visited important sites and Commonwealth war cemeteries around the region and in the Somme and three students also participated in the Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate.
For more on South Bromsgrove High School’s First World War projects, call 01527 831783.
