We began our week here at Francis Holland by gathering together in the Senior School playground to mark Remembrance Day. This was the first time that the whole school community have come together for an event, with the Prep school also in attendance. We were delighted to host two Chelsea Pensioners from the Royal Hospital Chelsea as our guests. They read to us from Laurence Binyon’s 1914 poem For the Fallen; our staff choir sung ‘O Radiant Dawn’ and our brass band played Elgar’s ‘Nimrod’. Rose Guard (Year 8) trumpeted ‘The Last Post’ and the ‘Reveille’ with impressive aplomb; well done Rose! I was privileged to wear a special stole which I hope will be used annually as we mark Remembrance here at FHS; this was created as a community art project by our prep school pupils, many of whom made a fabric poppy to contribute to the stole.

At this event the school also heard a recording of our Chapel Choir singing ‘Abide with Me’, which you can enjoy here.

Revd. van der Hart, School Chaplain