Old Boys of Sir William Turner’s School paid tribute to the fallen during a Redcar Remembrance Service, now in its 102nd year.
The event at Redcar and Cleveland College urged students to remember the real lives behind the names of those listed on the war memorial that stands on the corner of the college grounds.
The Celtic Cross bears the names of 48 former pupils of the historic Redcar school, who died on active service during the First World War. In the college there is a plaque with a further 55 names of those that lost their lives during the Second World War.
Historian Peter Chester, a former lecturer at Sir William Turner’s Sixth Form, said: “Behind every name was a real person with a family, friends and their own personal story.
“Each was someone’s son. They had mothers and fathers, they could have had brothers and sisters, wives and children, friends, colleagues and schoolmates.”
Through Remembrance, he said: “We are not remembering the dead, we are remembering those who were once living, whether they lived 100, 80, or 30 years ago.”
With roots that link back to Sir William Turner’s School, the ceremony is now an annual tradition on the Redcar and Cleveland College calendar. It brings together former Old Boys of the school, their families, friends and loved ones, the Royal British Legion Redcar branch, the college and community.
In this year’s ceremony Mark Watts, the college’s course leader for public services, and Jason Faulkner, deputy chief executive of the Education Training Collective, both having served in the armed services, were asked to reflect on what Remembrance means to them.
“It was a privilege and honour to be asked to speak, as most veterans would testify,” said Mark, who served in the army for 24 years. “It is so important that people remember the cost of the freedoms that have been given to us.
“When you go into service you appreciate the magnitude of what Remembrance is all about. It is the epitome of service to give your life for your country. The impact, not just on individuals, but on whole families, should not be forgotten.”
As for his students, he added: “They do take a vested interest in Remembrance and what it stands for. Many will be members of the cadets either with the police or military and as such will have a part to play in Remembrance Sunday.
“The work that Peter Chester does, talking about the lives behind the names and those links with local history, makes the young people reflect.”
Public services students were invited to read out the names of those who died on active service, before an honour guard from the Royal British Legion led the congregation out to the Celtic Cross War Memorial for the Last Post, a two-minute silence and the laying of wreaths.
Alfie studies public services at the college. For the 17-year-old from Brotton, Remembrance has always been a significant event. He said: “It is something that has always mattered to me as my dad is in the British Army.”
As a police cadet, he added: “I do try to get involved as much as I can as it is an important day. It represents the importance of those that sacrificed their lives for our freedom and our future.”
