The annual Remembrance Service took place on Monday 11th November from 2:30 pm for 3 pm in the former Woodfield Hall, Bewdley Road, hosted by President Norman Broadfield.
Since the last printing of the 'Act of Remembrance Service', Past President Arthur Miller has further updated the information enclosed therein and added further suitable readings. Thank you, Arthur, for your continued diligence and investigations.
Held at the Old School Hall, Bewdley Road at 3 pm on 11th November, ten Old Carolians were joined by my wife, Jan, representing the former pupils of Kidderminster High School for Girls, and Olive Broadfield, who adds official photographer to her many roles!
Our President, Norman, began the service with the Introduction and then read 'Attack' by Siegfried Sassoon. The Old Carolians' Roll of Honour for World War I was started by Norman and completed by Senior Vice-President David Simons. Joel Douglas read the Roll of Honour in memory of Old Elizabethans who fell in the Great War. There followed two readings: 'Remorse' by Siegfried Sassoon and 'In Flanders Fields' by John McCrae. These were read in turn by your correspondent and Norman.
The Roll of Honour for World War II for King I Charles School was read by Junior Vice-President Nigel Geary. Before the other Rolls of Honour for World War II, an extract from 'Hugh Selwyn Mauberley (His Life and Contacts)' by Ezra Pound was read by immediate Past President John Hall. The World War II Roll of Honour for Queen Elizabeth I School, Hartlebury was entrusted to Joel, and after 'Dulce et Decorum Est' by Wilfred Owen (Ken Ryder's speciality) had been suitably enunciated by David Simons, Jan completed the Rolls of Honour readings with those for Kidderminster High School for Girls for World War II, and King Charles I School for the Falklands War and Afghanistan.
Following the traditional two minutes' silence, Norman was assisted by David and Nigel in placing the wreath. For those of you who remember the Old School Hall, the wreath is placed on the ledge, just below the window, behind where the Headmaster used to stand for morning assembly and between the locations of the Rolls of Honour boards.
There followed, after an extract from 'For the Fallen' by Laurence Binyon, from Arthur, prayers, including the collect for Remembrance Sunday and the blessing. We sang the National Anthem (pitched rather lower than usual, but better that way round!) and then, after photographs, said our farewells. Access to and use of the venue was courtesy of M&m Dance & Performing Arts Studios, and our Treasurer, Peter Picken, obtained the wreath; thank you, Peter.
Richard Woolley, Remembrance Day Correspondent