Brentwood School Remembers
Published by Brentwood School on Monday 12th of December 2022
A very special Service of Remembrance was live-streamed from Brentwood School today ensuring students, staff, parents, Old Brentwoods and local residents could unite for a moment of collective remembrance.At the 11th Hour of the 11th Day of the 11th Month, the symbolic and mournful sound of the Last Post being played by trumpeters in the School’s cloisters echoed around the Victorian Chapel and eerily-quiet campus.
The multi-location, live video and audio stream of the 20-minute service, led by School Chaplain Rev’d Dr McConnaughie, was live-streamed on the School’s YouTube channel from the Chapel and Cloisters. It was timed so as to incorporate the national two-minute silence at 11am.
The service also featured a Drum Altar, built by Senior NCOs (non-commissioned officers) from the School’s Combined Cadet Force, and movingly accompanied by the Choir singing C.V Stanford's 'Justorum Animae'.
Rev’d Dr McConnaughie explained the Drum Altar: “This tradition dates back several centuries. Shortly before battle, soldiers sought to gather for prayer and in the absence of a chapel altar around which to meet, the regimental drums were laid together.”
The opening reading, given by Upper Sixth student Martha, was followed by Headmaster Michael Bond reading lines from ‘For the Fallen (September 1914)’ by English poet and scholar Laurence Binyon.
This year the traditional Laying of the Wreath saw student Head of School, Cameron, place the final wreath on top of the drum altar. The Kohima Epitaph was also read by the Headmaster.
Members of staff and students from across the School watched the poignant service on large screens in various locations. It was the perfect 21st century way to remember the men and women who gave their lives in the two World Wars and subsequent conflicts.
After the service, Mr Bond and Rev’d Dr McConnaughie were joined by members of the School’s CCF to lay wreaths at the foot of the Memorial in Library Square.
