PUPILS and staff at Abbey Park Middle School were joined by special guests for a service to mark the beginning of the Centenary of the First World War.
Pershore’s Mayor Coun Tony Rowley and veterans from the town’s Royal British Legion and Royal Naval Association gathered for the service of Remembrance.
All 101 names on Pershore’s roll of honour of the men from the town who fell during the conflict were read out and Pershore High School Head Girl Alice Bull played the Last Post and Reveille.
The service marked the start of a special day of activities for the children on the theme of the First World War which included writing poems to enter into the Pershore Poppy Appeal Committee’s poetry competition.
As well as putting pen to paper, youngsters also planted poppy seeds in the school grounds, made paper poppies, studied life in Pershore back in 1914 and even dug their very own trench.
Trudy Burge, honorary secretary of the Pershore Royal Naval Association, said: “To hear the names of the Fallen memorised and read aloud by the youngsters of the town was very special.
“I know that all the veterans felt very privileged to be a part of their special day.
“We’ve decided that all the poems will be bound into a special book at the school to serve as sort of time-capsule for the centenary.
“Hopefully, we can publish some of the entries on the Pershore Poppy Appeal’s website but we also plan to have some of the children read out their poems at this year’s Armistice Day Service too.” she added.
