Children from 15 local schools have taken part in this year’s Farnham Schools’ Remembrance Service at the War memorial in Gostrey Meadow. 

The young people watched as Parade Marshall Ian Hunter led the Civic party which included the Mayor of Farnham, Deputy Lieutenant Martin Gerrard QPM DL, Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet Samuel Tough, the Rev’d Sandy Clark and representatives from the Royal British Legion, uniformed personnel and cadet forces from Farnham Town Council to the war memorial. 

The Mayor of Farnham, Councillor Alan Earwaker welcomed guests and read an extract from a 1918 edition of the Farnham College Magazine which paid tribute to former pupils and teachers who lost their lives during the First World War. 

The service continued with readings from students at Farnham Heath End and Weydon. Deputy Lord Lieutenant, Martin Gerrard QPM DL, and Weydon’s head girl Olivia Lardner and head boy, Sam Cowman together with Chloe Hill and Luke Drew of Farnham Heath End School read ‘They Shall Grow Not Old’. This was followed by All Hallows Sixth Formers James Hyland and Alexandra Roy reading a poem written by James called A Tender Indifference.

At 11am, everybody observed the two-minute silence. This was followed by the reading of the Kohima Epitaph and poems which were written and read by pupils from Potters Gate, William Cobbett and South Farnham Juniors. The service concluded with the laying of wreaths and placing of crosses at the Memorial. 

The schools’ remembrance service is organised by Farnham Town Council in conjunction with the Farnham Schools’ Confederation.