Harewood College pastoral support worker Annabel Major visited the WWI cememteries in France for the Armistice centenary commemorations. There she laid wreaths on behalf of the college. Here she is pictured with a photo of the wreath on the graves of two unknown Dorset soldiers and the college’s head and deputy head boys.
A Bournemouth school worker paid a special mark of remembrance at the First World War cemeteries in France.
Harewood College’s Annabel Major accompanied her husband, Nigel who works in the Fire Service, on a special Armistice visit to France.
While she was there she laid five wreaths on behalf of Harewood College at Thiepval Cemetery, Ulster Memorial Tower, Welsh Division Memorial at Mametz Wood, Connaught Cemetery and the Lonsdale Military Cemetery where soldiers from the 1st Dorset were laid to rest.
Annabel, who works in the college’s pastoral support team, said: “It was a very moving experience to be in the Somme with my husband for Armistice Day.
“We attended the centenary memorial service at Villers Bretonneux and over the weekend I was able to lay some wreaths to honour the fallen. It was a very poignant moment as I couldn’t help but think this could well be our local boys and men.
“At Lonsdale Military Cemetery I laid a wreath between the graves of two unknown Dorset soldiers. This cemetery moved me the most.
“I will be sharing my experience and my photos with our students – it is so important we never forget the sacrifices that were made.”
Avonbourne Trust, which comprises Harewood and Avonbourne colleges, Avonbourne Sixth Form and Avonwood Primary, held a series of events and assemblies in the run-up to the Armistice remembrance to ensure students from all its academies recognised the significance of the centenary.
Central to this were 10 specially commissioned silhouettes depicting First World War soldiers.
These soldiers were located around the Avonbourne and Harewood college campuses as a striking reminder of how people should never forget.
Trust CEO, Debbie Godfrey-Phaure, visited St James’ Church in Bournemouth on Remembrance Sunday along with sixth formers Ross Popovs and Mina Rice to lay a wreath for the local soldiers who sacrificed their lives.
She said: “Marking the Armistice centenary has been an incredibly moving experience for us all.
“Having the silhouette soldiers and Annabel’s moving experience in France has really brought home the importance of remembrance.
“Men and boys, some as young as our students, gave their lives in the First World War so we could all be free today. We will ensure this generation and future generations never forget that.”
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