Earlier the same morning, a whole school assembly, delivered by teacher of history, Will Scott, reminded students of the reasons for remembrance; the ways in which people can pay their respects and how remembrance looks across our community.

Bringing home the realities of war, Will also shared the story of his great grandfather, Private Laurence Smirk, who enlisted in the army in April 1943 and served in the 1^st Battalion of the York and Lancaster Regiment. After serving only a year in the armed forces, he was shot by a sniper on the streets of Anzio, Italy, whilst delivering a message in June 1944.

Will said: “Compiling the information about my great grandfather was really interesting and quite an emotional experience for both myself and my family. My mum spoke to a lot of relatives while helping to research his story, so it was nice to have the wider family involved. It was a pleasure to share the story with our students, to remember the life of my great grandfather and to highlight the countless families that will have similar stories to tell.”

Meanwhile, a group of year 9 students were chosen to represent the school at the town’s remembrance commemorations. Student Sam Jennison read the exhortation and a wreath was laid on behalf of the school community.

Accompanying the students was Second in Humanities, Clare Atkin, who said: “They represented the school incredibly well and were very respectful and thoughtful. I think they gained a lot from it. The reason we selected students in year 9 to take part was because they are currently studying The Great War in history lessons, so it will feel quite immediate to them.

“They could certainly see from the huge number of wreaths that were laid yesterday, and on Sunday, that there are many different groups and organisations involved across the community. I think it’s important for students to see that it’s a significant event for them to be involved with and to understand the reasons behind it.”

Elsewhere across the school, members of the Key Stage 3 art club created 80 purple poppies which were placed in the school grounds as a symbol of remembrance for the animals that served during wartime. These new additions joined some of the 350 red poppies that were created last year and reused for this year’s commemorations.

Year 10 Engineering students also used their skills to help create three poppy wreaths, made from hand-cut and spray-painted sheets of aluminium. The finished products formed part of this year’s in-school displays, with one wreath also being raffled to help raise funds for the Royal British Legion.

The raffle helped to raise an impressive £106.50 for the RBL, with year 7 student Sam Sherwood (ticket number 280) being drawn as the winner of the wreath.  

Amy Norris, Head of Design Technology, said: “A total of 57 students across three engineering classes were involved with the poppy wreath project, with each student making an individual poppy to place on one of the wreaths. The teaching assistants assigned across the groups also tested their engineering skills to make poppies, making it a real team effort. I was also really impressed with how many students wanted to give up their social time to help add finishing touches to the project and to complete the wreaths to a standard of high quality. Their hard work has been reflected in the money raised through the raffle and I would like to thank everyone who has purchased a ticket in support of the efforts of our students for the benefit of the Royal British Legion.”

ABOVE: Year 9 students represented the school at Withernsea’s Armistice day commemorations. Pictured left to right are Charlotte Finer, Cale Orwin, Cole Purdy, Sam Jennison, Alex Napier, Brooklyn Haley and Crystal Hayton.

ABOVE: The members of the ‘10A’ engineering group were one of three Year 10 classes who produced a wreath of remembrance. 

ABOVE: A close-up of one of the three wreaths on display. One example was raffled off for the benefit of the Royal British Legion. The raffle raised £106.50 for the RBL and the wreath was won by year 7 student Sam Sherwood. 

ABOVE: A display of purple poppies, representing animals who served in wartime, was created by key stage 3 art club students and positioned in the school grounds.

ABOVE: Traditional red poppies, made by students in the previous academic year, were once again used as part of this year’s display.

ABOVE: WHS students Elliott Tate and Jason Appleby participated in Withernsea's Remembrance Sunday commemoration parade. [Photo Credit: Terry Bearpark]