Youngsters, some as young as just three, rekindled wartime memories for Veterans at Wednesday’s Remembrance Day service and special ‘poppy tea’ afterwards in the St John’s church hall.
Children and staff from four nurseries around town joined the Veterans, civic dignitaries, local service organisations and members of public to remember the fallen of war.
A lone piper played, prayers were said and silence kept for two minutes at the War Memorial outside St John’s, thankfully free of Sunday’s downpours.
Wreaths were laid, including one from St Andrews nursery on Brooke Street whose children for the last fortnight or so have been studying the Remembrance commemorations as part of their early years curriculum work.
After the short service was over outside, many Veterans stayed on to be entertained and were served refreshments by the staff and children from the nursery in the crowded church hall.
The Veterans were delighted to see all the children’s hard work displayed in drawings and paintings of poppy fields, as well as small models of the Anderson war-time air-raid shelters.
The kids had also designed some mock service medals made out of flour which impressed everyone, as did all their hard work in the kitchen.
The children had been busy home baking included making poppy biscuits and egg-less sponge, only from ingredients that were rationed during war, and that were listed in a ration book laid out on each table. A special favourite were the Spam sandwiches which brought pleasant memories flooding back with each tasty bite for many of the older members in the hall!
As they enjoyed lunch, the Veterans were also entertained on stage by the children performing dances and singing war-time songs like: ‘It’s a long way to Tipperary’ which was first sung during World War One.
‘The British Legion were very pleased so many people turned up for the service and silence,’ said Robin Paisley, our Rector.
He added: ‘All the children from the nurseries engaged with the service very well. They were extraordinarily well behaved.’
Robin was delighted so many stayed on for refreshments in the church hall and said everybody came away so impressed by the efforts of the St Andrew’s staff and particularly the children for making the occasion extra memorable.