Today on Remembrance Day, hundreds of staff and students of Cirencester College gathered for a remembrance service to honour service men and women whose lives were lost or affected by conflict.
The ceremony began with a parade from the Uniformed Services students, who marched to gather at the College’s cenotaph. This was followed by a welcoming speech from the College Principal Jim Grant, highlighting the sacrifices made by British soldiers as well as soldiers from all over the Commonwealth and the importance of honouring them for those sacrifices.
At 11am a two-minute silence was observed, followed by a wreath laying on the cenotaph by students. The ceremony was closed by Uniformed Services students marching after the Last Post was played.
For the first time the College Remembrance Service was accompanied by a choir of Performing Arts students, who sang Jerusalem with students and staff. Following this, the choir gave a moving performance of “Home Thoughts from Abroad” from the Military Wives.
Students from the College’s Sundial Theatre Company also honoured Remembrance Day on Wednesday evening with their play ‘Waiting for Home’. Written, directed and performed by students, ‘Waiting For Home’ was well received by the audience as it explored the broad impact of war from a wide range of perspectives and stories.
Principal Jim Grant said, “This was particularly special as it was our first big event post-lockdown. As ever the respect with which all our students treated the event was remarkable. Those students in the parade and choir took a great deal of pride in their performance and should be very proud of themselves”
Those who could not attend were able to watch the ceremony via a livestream from the College’s YouTube channel organised by staff and students in the College’s Media department.
For more information on this story please contact chloe.suter@cirencester.ac.uk
