It’s November again and this year Remembrance Day (11th) fell on last Friday. Once again our local schools marked the day with a short ceremony on Miss Whalley’s Field. This year we were delighted to welcome:-

• Central Lancaster High School,
• Christchurch Primary,
• Castle View Primary and
• Cathedral Primary (who had the longest walk to get to the memorial stone – special congratulations to them!).

The vicar of Christchurch, Carol Backhouse led the ceremony supported by Paul Wiggins, Chair of the Friends of the Field.

Here they are awaiting the arrival of the school parties in a rather blustery wind!

Last year a young lady called Sarah was unable to cross the road to participate in the ceremony due to the absence of dropped kerbs for her powered wheelchair. The Friends asked the Council to put in dropped kerbs so this year Sarah was the first to arrive!

She immediately took on the job of distributing Orders of Service for the arriving schoolchildren.

Once everyone had arrived (including several local adults) there was quite a crowd. Paul Wiggins reminded everyone of the history of the Field  and encouraged all the children present to make the most of Miss Whalley’s gift to ‘The Children of Lancaster’, and to use and look after the Field.

The vicar then led the formal Service of Remembrance which included readings by the children present. 

Finally there was the laying of wreaths on behalf of each school.

Thanks to everyone who made this important annual event possible, especially the children who attended and the staff who accompanied them. The Friends of the Field appreciate the enthusiastic support of Rev. Carol and also of County Councillor Lizzie Collinge who seems to support every event we hold on the Field.

As you know, Miss Whalley’s Field was given to the children of Lancaster in memory of Miss Whalley’s brother and father. Her brother was killed in WW1.

Because the Field is classified as a war memorial, Remembrance Day is always particularly important to local people and this year is no exception.

The short ceremony (at the memorial stone at the top of the Field) will begin at 10.45 on Friday and will last for about half an hour. As usual it will be focussed on the school children who will attend from Christchurch, Cathedral and Castle View Primary Schools, and Central High School.

The Rev. Carol Backhouse from Christchurch, who has supported various other events organised by the Friends of the Field, will lead the Remembrance event. 

The public are very welcome to attend but the focus will be on the children, who will be entirely under the supervision of their school staff.