HAMSTEL Infant School and Nursery in Southend marked Remembrance Day with a special service.

The event involved the sounding of the Last Post, a march past from members of Westcliff High School for Boys’ Combined Cadet Force and they were also joined by representatives from the local branch of the Royal British Legion.

The children laid wreaths made from recycled materials to mark the special event.
Remembrance commemoration is very special to the Hamstel Schools, which were officially opened on August 31st 1914, just twenty seven days after World War 1 was declared.


The school has had a long history of supporting our country during the two World Wars, in the making and distribution of gas masks, being a school that was mainly evacuated to
Derbyshire and being used as a barracks for various regiments during the Second World War.
The roof tiles still bear the graffiti of many regiments who obviously had some time on their hands whilst they were lookouts. Excerpts from the school log books are shared with
the children, telling them of life for the children at Hamstel during those times.
The Armed Forces, from the Army,
Navy and Air Force and their families, from Britain and the Commonwealth are remembered. Pupils remembered the vital role played by the emergency services and those that lost their lives as a result of conflict or terrorism. they also remembered
the many animals and birds who were sacrificed in supporting the human efforts.
The school respectfully marks this event each year as a way of helping the children of this generation understand the message of Remembrance and to have a powerful experience they will themselves remember.
The support of the CCF cadets marching and laying a wreath on behalf of the school brings a realness of the work the Armed Forces do.
The whole school and nursery participated and the sound of a lone bugler playing the Last Post was a very moving and memorable moment for all.