Remembrance Day
On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, St Andrew’s Prep joined the nation to remember those who have lost their lives through war and conflict. The children from the prep and pre-prep schools gathered under the school clock and remained silent for two minutes to pay their respects.
Earlier in the day, a Remembrance Service had been held for staff, pupils and their families in the School Chapel. The Headmaster, Gareth Jones, spoke movingly about a courageous former pupil, Eric Yarrow, who died on the front line in 1915. The Headmaster at the time, Rev E L Browne, wrote the following to his grieving parents:
“Dear Mr Yarrow, I am more grieved than I can tell you. I never had – nor could wish to have – a better boy; nor could you have a better son nor our country a better citizen.”
The hymns, I Vow to Thee, My Country and Make Me a Channel of your Peace were interspersed with poems and prayers read by staff and pupils and the choir sang a very moving rendition of Refuge by Howard Goodall. Wreaths were laid by the Head Girl Daisy Newton and Head Boy Joe Al-Hasso and The Last Post and Reveille were played by Assistant Director of Music, Michelle Eldridge and Year 8 pupil Evan Nayler.
Many memorials in the chapel mark the 91 boys and staff who lost their lives in the First World War and the 69 Old Androvians and teachers who were killed in the Second World War.
