On Monday 2 November, the Lower School Gardening Club led by Mrs Sarah Williams assisted by College Archivist, Rebecca Jallot, planted 334 poppy crosses for each OE who has died in conflict. The crosses are planted in the Garden of Remembrance and are labelled with the name, rank, regiment and date of death of every individual OE.
The crosses are arranged in groups by conflict and the Gardening Club worked on the First and Second World War displays.
The pupils made a special effort to read the name of the OE and their details before planting the cross, enabling them to think of the individual and honour their memory as the cross went into the ground. The task prompted some excellent questions about school life during the war years. The variety of regiments from all areas of the Armed Forces also led to a keen discussion.
Planting the crosses is an annual task but this was the inaugural year for the Lower School, one that we hope to continue in the future.
