Imagine walking down the street, your eyes trailing towards a sea of poppies pinned to the hearts of people you pass. Imagine discovering that each shop window you glance into is framed by red and black and sporting the phrase ‘Lest We Forget’. Imagine your mental shopping list being interrupted by the tannoy in a local supermarket, announcing a sobering two minute silence.
Well, the students and shoppers who walked the paths of Stourbridge High Street on November 11th, didn’t have to imagine. Local shops were ‘decked out’ in Remembrance window stickers, the shoppers were honouring the momentous date with their own paper or pin-badge poppies, and Tesco Supermarket prompted the people within its walls to take part in the national silence that scoped all round England on this day.
Nearly every part of England celebrated the brave souls that fought for the country’s future, and King Ed’s was no exception.
All students were invited out of their lessons at 10:55 to meet in the Quad to hear Principal Holly Bembridge dedicate this service to not only the heroes of the First and Second World Wars but also to the addition of two ex-pupil-turned-soldier’s names onto the memorial residing within the walls of Haley Hall. These men were James Henry Watkins and John Graham Pearson.
After the discovery was announced, Principal Holly reached out to any relatives of the students reunited with their fellow fallen classmates and Graham Pearson’s family caught news of the discovery.
Graham’s family was present during the College’s service today to stand in the same school that he himself would have attended at the age of 13.
After the Principal’s speech that emphasised the importance of love overcoming the detrimental effects of death in post-war society today just as it was in the years following the world wars, the Exhortation was boldly recited by the Chair of the Student Union, with the last words “We will remember them’ signalling the sounding of the ‘Last Post’ being played and the crowd of students and guests falling into symbolic silence for the prominent two minutes at exactly 11:00 am.
The moment of reflection and self-respect was broken by the sounding of the ‘Reveille’ and students began to disperse back into the swing of Monday life.
The service, however, was not over for all. I was given the honour of attending the Private Remembrance Service in Hayley Hall where Governors, Trustees, Old Edwardians and other invited guests met.
A speech by Kenneth Wright, the local Historian who unearthed the omittance of the two names, was given where their stories were shared and John Graham Pearson’s relative, Dr Christopher Oxley, unveiled the new plaque that has the names and legacies etched into it after 93 years of being missing, reuniting them into the ranks of the other ‘old boys’ who lost their lives during the First World War.
Prayers from the Minister and the laying of the wreaths followed as the group gathered were quiet, only breaking their momentary vows of silence to repeat “amen” and “we will remember them”.
11:00 brought about a feeling that was encaptured both at King Ed’s and nationally, as individuals bowed their heads in civility and consideration for the day’s important message of memory and respect. It can be guaranteed that this message will continue for many years to come in the form of paper poppies, two minute silences and unity.