REMEMBRANCE DAY 2019
SACRIFICE AND UNITY
REMEMBRANCE SERVICE
Once again the School came together for our Remembrance service . It is always a sobering occasion that makes us stop to remember the sacrifices of all those who have lost their lives in conflict . However , it also brings hope and helps us to realise the togetherness and spirit of our Pocklington School community . We are all there , as one , for a single , special , purpose .
This year I spoke to the School about the Poet Laureate , John Masefield , and his account of walking over the ground of the Battle of the Somme one year after it had ended . I also spoke about the 75th anniversary of D-Day and the liberation of Europe that followed . However , more personally I reflected on a young man I used to teach called Chris who was severely wounded whilst fighting in Afghanistan and yet still returned to the UK and to school to complete his A levels . He has gone on to make a difference to thousands of people through his work with charities , helping wounded soldiers and the victims of gang violence . It is this selfless dedication to others , this desire to make a difference , this ability to find light and hope , despite the dark times , that are an inspiration to me and , I hope , to our young Pocklingtonians .
“ We are far more united and have far more in common with each other than things that divide us .” Jo Cox
This week I also had the great pleasure of catching up with an old friend of mine . He also happens to be one of the two police officers who apprehended the killer of the late Jo Cox MP and received a Queen ’ s Gallantry Medal for his bravery . This reminded me of one of Jo Cox ’ s most important lines from her maiden speech to Parliament . It is one that I often reference when speaking with students after certain
instances of misunderstandings between them in Middle School ; “ We are far more united and have far more in common with each other than things that divide us .”
The run in to Christmas is always a tough one in School . Pupils ( and staff ) become weary and seemingly innocuous little occurrences can snowball into tears and upset . As long as we keep talking to each other , remember our strength as a community and those reflective words above then I think we will be ok !
Gareth Hughes Head of Middle School , Head of History , Government and Politic
22 THE POCKLINGTONIAN