School community comes together for Remembrance
On Sunday 8 November, our annual Service of Remembrance paid tribute to those who lost their lives in conflicts. In particular, the masters, staff and boys of Tonbridge who sacrificed their lives in WWI and WWII. Following the poignant words, “At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them”, Ayden (Sc2) sounded the Last Post. The Chapel then observed two minutes of silence before Reveille was played.
Wreaths were placed at the War Memorial on behalf of the School, the Old Tonbridgian Society and the Combined Cadet Force, before the congregation joined in the National Anthem. The Chapel Choir provided a moving accompaniment to the service, with pieces including Christine Donkin’s setting of John McCrae’s In Flanders Fields, followed later in the service by John Ireland’s Greater Love hath no man.
The first lesson, from the Wisdom of Solomon, was read by Head of School Guy (OH5), while the second lesson, from the Gospel of St John, was read by Jeremy Cowdrey (PH 73-78), President of the Old Tonbridgian Society. The sermon was given by Fr David Peters, Senior Chaplain.
Before the service, Lewis Morrin, Organist and Accompanist in Residence, performed Herbert Howells’ Rhapsody No. 1 in D-flat and Hubert Parry’s Elegy. J S Bach’s Fugue in E-flat, “St Anne” brought the service to a close.
The occasion provided an opportunity to reflect on the impact of both World Wars. By the end of the First World War, 415 Tonbridgians had lost their lives, a figure roughly equal to the number of boys at the School at the time. Around half were aged 24 or younger, and approximately half of this group were aged 20 or younger. Most served as junior officers in the Army.
A further 301 Tonbridgians lost their lives during the Second World War. This included 144 who served in the RAF, 85 of whom were killed while serving with the Bomber Command.
Our CCF cadets also supported the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal in Tonbridge. Third Year boys from all three Services installed the annual poppy display at Tonbridge Castle, while members of the RAF section collected donations in the town.
